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, argued that the BIA rushed its review of the Koi Nation's ancestral claims to the area.

The proposed casino project 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 temporary restraining order prevents the Department of Interior from taking the 68-acre property into federal trust until a January 9 hearing, where both parties will present additional arguments. The order is expected to remain in effect until January 20, coinciding with the presidential transition.

U.S. attorneys contest the restraining order, stating that proper due diligence was conducted, including site surveys and forensic searches. Only one piece of obsidian was found during archaeological surveys, with no human remains discovered.

Local opposition to the casino remains strong, with residents citing concerns about:

• Infrastructure capacity
• Water resources
• Regional oversaturation of gaming facilities
• Impact on the area's wine country character

The Graton tribe alleges that the Koi Nation is engaging in "reservation shopping" by claiming ancestral ties to an economically advantageous location.

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