This page contains archived news updates for Graton Resort Casino from 2024. These items were originally posted on the casino's profile page and have been preserved here as part of the 500 Nations legacy news archive. Major stories from this year may also appear as standalone articles in the main News section.
Archived News Items
Graton Rancheria files 11th-hour lawsuit to stop Shiloh Casino project
December 4, 2024
Graton Rancheria filed a lawsuit last week against the U.S. Department of the Interior to stop the Koi Nation from building a $600 million casino resort within 15 miles of Graton Resort and Casino. The project, named the Shiloh Resort and Casino, is under review for approval by the Interior Department and a final decision is expected soon. Graton Rancheria filed its lawsuit on Nov. 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
The Koi Nation was federally-recognized in 2019. In 2021 the tribe purchased 68 acres located 10 miles northeast of Santa Rosa, California. Later that year the tribe announced plans to build a $600 million, 1.2 million square-foot casino and destination resort on that land and applied for federal approval through the U.S. Department of Interior. The application process is in a 30-day public comment period which ends Dec. 23. Soon after that, the Interior Department will decide whether to accept or reject the application. That decision is expected before the end of the Biden administration.
If the Koi Nation plan is approved, the Shiloh Resort and Casino will be built and managed with the help of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. The Chickasaw operate the Winstar World Casino, which is the largest casino in the world.
Graton Rancheria does not want to share the market with a nearby competitor, and bases its law case on tribal rights to ancestral lands. The lawsuit alleges the Koi Nation has no ancestral rights to the casino land. Graton says the historic rancheria of the Koi Nation is 50 miles to the north.
"Through its Project, the Koi Nation is improperly attempting to establish trust lands for gaming outside of its ancestral territory and in the aboriginal homeland of the Tribe."
- Graton Rancheria Lawsuit
Koi Nation spokesman, Sam Singer, strongly denies these claims. He told SFGATE:
"There is no truthfulness or merit to the Graton Rancheria lawsuit which was made in bad faith. The lawsuit is an effort at gamesmanship to circumvent the BIA's legal and regulatory process to advance Graton's own economic interest."
- Sam Singer, Koi Nation spokesman
The Department of Interior will make a decision soon. If the Koi Nation casino is approved, the Shiloh Resort and Casino will likely not start construction anytime soon. The legal challenge to the casino may keep the project languishing in court for the next few years.
The $1 expansion project underway at Graton Resort & Casino continues on-schedule for completion late next year. When finished, Graton will be California's second largest casino after Yaamava' Resort Casino.
August 2024: Last month Graton completed and opened a new south parking garage with 1,800 vehicle spaces. A pedestrian walkway connects the garage to the casino. The location of the south parking garage is shown below.
September 2024: This month Graton began preparation work on the eastside of the casino. This area of construction will add a poker room, a high-limit gaming area, and a sports bar. There will also be a rooftop restaurant.
Garden: Graton has recently purchased multiple parcels of land on the westside of the casino. The new land totals about 40-acres and will be developed as an organic community garden.
Hotel: Graton is building a five-story, hotel wing on the southside of the existing hotel. The new wing will add with 200 rooms and an adult pool with a swim-up bar.
Completion Date: The expansion project will open in phases, and the entire project will be completed before the end of 2025.
Contractors: Project Architects: Walter P. Moore & Associates of San Diego and Bergman Walls & Associates of Henderson, Nevada Project Developer: ECL Development LLC, of Las Vegas PGeneral Contractor: SMC Contracting, Inc. of Sparks, Nevada
Graton Resort & Casino began a $1B expansion project last year to enlarge its casino and add a new hotel wing, a rooftop restaurant, a live entertainment theater, and a five-story parking garage.
On Monday the parking garage will open to the public with capacity for 1,800 vehicles and a pedestrian walkway to the casino.
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New Parking Garage - Opening Monday, August 12 - Courtesy of Graton Resort & Casino, Aug 5, 2024. Available from YouTube
"This is an exciting day and we're thrilled to begin construction. The expansion reflects our consistent mission to provide the highest quality guest experience at Graton Resort & Casino. We've been working on these plans for several years and we're excited to create new job opportunities here in Sonoma County."
- Greg Sarris, Tribal Chairman
When construction is completed in 2026, Graton Casino will boast with 6,000 slot machines, the second largest casino in California next to the 6,500 slots at Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel.
Graton Resort & Casino will be 2nd largest CA casino
February 26, 2024
Graton Resort & Casino began construction of a $1 billion expansion project on June 16, 2023. When completed, Graton will have doubled the size of its casino and hotel becoming the second largest casino resort in California.
Slot Machines Graton Casino currently has 3,000 slot machines. The expansion will add 2,000 slots with room for an additional 1,000. Yaamava' Resort Casino at San Manuel is the largest casino in California with 7,200 slot machines.
Table Games Graton Casino will increase the number of table games from 144 to 164. Yaamava' has 150.
Hotel Rooms Graton will double its number of hotel rooms to 421. Yaamava' has 432 rooms.
In addition the expansion at Graton Resort & Casino will add a 3,500-seat theater, a parking structure with 1,500 vehicle spaces, and a large rooftop restaurant will have indoor and outdoor seating.
In recent news Graton Resort & Casino opened a new restaurant named Bistro 101. The American casual cuisine was inspired by wine country and features smash burgers and Waygo beef. New themed cocktail areas will be added this spring. Bistro 101 is open 7 AM to midnight daily and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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