North Fork Rancheria opens casino with more than 2,400 slot machines in California

According to a report, the North Fork Mono Casino began welcoming guests in Madera, California, on Tuesday. Its floor holds over 2,400 slot machines alongside 40 table games. Station Casinos LLC runs the resort; it is a consolidated subsidiary of Red Rock Resorts and works with the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians.

A separate High Limit Room provides a more private setting, holding 138 slot machines and 10 table games, with its own bar and cashier. For food and drink, the property lists eight dining venues and four bars. The flagship Manzanita Steakhouse serves farm-to-table cuisine and stocks more than 250 local and international wine labels. Sports fans can watch 56 television screens at Clubhouse 99, the casino's sports bar. Including all expenses, the project cost approximately $750 million.

Tribal treasurer Maryann McGovran outlined what may come next: a hotel, parking garage, entertainment centre and conference centre. In her view, the casino will bring in extra revenue for social services for North Fork citizens and for the City and County of Madera, as set out in the tribe's official agreements with both governments.

Reaching this opening took the tribe decades of work to establish the property, and lawsuits at state and federal level from opponents caused delays along the way. The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, operator of Chukchansi Gold Casino and Resort off Highway 41, has filed a federal lawsuit that remains pending and aims to halt the North Fork casino. A federal judge must now decide whether operations at the North Fork property will be suspended or whether Picayune's latest suit will be dismissed.

Rather than harbour resentment about the legal disputes and delays, McGovran called the opening "a beautiful time." General Manager Mark Ward said the long wait allowed the casino to fold community feedback into its plans, and it ended up with a larger number of slot machines than first intended.