A federal judge has indefinitely delayed plans for a new tribal casino in Sonoma County, California, following a temporary restraining order granted to the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.

Judge Rita Lin of California's Northern District Court halted the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) from proceeding with the Koi Nation's casino project near Windsor. The Graton tribe, which operates the Graton Hotel & Casino in Rohnert Park, challenged the BIA's review process of the Koi Nation's ancestral claims to the area.

The proposed casino development includes:

• 114,000 square feet of gaming space
• 2,750 slot machines
• 105 table games
• 400-room hotel
• Spa facilities
• Five restaurants
• Retail shopping
• Convention space

The restraining order, issued on December 20, prevents the Interior Department from taking the 68-acre property into federal trust until a January 9 hearing. The order is expected to remain in effect through January 20, coinciding with the presidential administration change.

U.S. attorneys argue that proper due diligence was conducted, including site surveys and forensic searches. Only one artifact - a piece of obsidian - was discovered on the property.

Local opposition to the project centers on infrastructure concerns and regional oversaturation of gaming facilities. The Graton tribe alleges the Koi Nation is engaging in "reservation shopping" by claiming ancestral ties to an economically advantageous location.

The case's outcome may be influenced by the upcoming administration change, as previous tribal land trust decisions have been reversed between administrations, such as the Massachusetts tribal casino case during the Trump presidency.

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