SACRAMENTO -- A Fresno County tribe this week won approval from the state to more than quadruple the number of slot machines it operates.
The Big Sandy Band of Western Mono Indians secured the 1,650 slot licenses as it continues its long-running push for a new Las Vegas-style casino in the foothills east of Friant.
But many questions remain on the project -- including the tribe's ability to pay for and run the new slots.
For one, the tribe still is waiting for environmental approvals from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs for the casino.
"There is no timeline until they have the completion of their [environmental impact statement]," said Amy Glines, a spokeswoman for Big Sandy.
She declined to answer most other questions about the project, deferring them to tribal officials, whom she said were traveling and not available Tuesday.
Fresno County officials said they have not had discussions with the tribe about the project in a long time. "It's probably been almost two years, if not longer, since they called for a meeting or came down," said Frank Fowler, the county's deputy public works director.
The tribe must have the new slots in operation within a year. So Big Sandy would likely have to find a way to squeeze them into the small, 350-slot Mono Wind Casino the tribe now runs near Auberry. Then, there is the matter of money.
The state requires a "prepayment fee" of $1,250 per license that is due by Oct. 12. Citing confidentiality rules, the state Gambling Control Commission said it could not confirm if Big Sandy had made the more than $2 million payment.
Big Sandy at one point was partnering with Harrah's Entertainment on a $250 million casino/hotel with 2,000 slot machines. Glines confirmed that Harrah's no longer is involved but she declined to say whether the tribe had a new financial partner.
The casino is targeted for land near the Table Mountain Casino, which has opposed Big Sandy's plans. Big Sandy's new licenses were awarded as part of a draw the Gambling Control Commission held Monday to comply with a court order.
In August, U.S. District Court Judge Frank C. Damrell ruled that California had improperly set a statewide cap on slot machines covered under gambling agreements the state approved in 1999. He ordered the state to offer 10,549 additional slot machine licenses. With demand low amid the recession, tribes sought only 3,548 licenses at Monday's draw.
Big Sandy wanted and was awarded the most. The Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians got 200 licenses. The tribe operates the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino in Coarsegold, which today runs 1,800 slots.
But all of the new slot licenses could be revoked if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wins his appeal of the federal court decision.
The judge "moved it on a faster track, so it will be heard in February. We still expect to win," said Jeff Macedo, a spokesman for the governor.
The governor has used the statewide cap as leverage in an attempt to get additional payments to the state in exchange for more slots. Some tribes refused to negotiate new deals and filed legal claims -- which led to Damrell's decision that the slot limit should have been set at 42,700 machines.
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