Station Casinos opens new $750M casino

A tribal casino in California developed and managed by Las Vegas-based Station Casinos has finally opened after more than two decades of legal challenges.

The North Fork Mono Casino officially opened for business Tuesday in Madera, California, less than 30 miles north of Fresno in the state’s Central Valley. The $725 million development has a total all-in project cost of approximately $750 million, according to Station Casinos, which will manage the resort in partnership with the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California.

The 264,000-square-foot property showcases floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the space with natural light and the 100,000-square-foot gaming area features more than 2,400 slot machines and 40 table games. There is a high limit room as well with 138 slots, 10 table games, a private bar and its own cashier.

The resort features eight dining venues and four bars. Clubhouse 99 features 56 large-screen TVs and more than 20 local and imported beers on tap, while the Manzanita Steakhouse boasts farm-to-table cuisine paired with live piano music and more than 250 local and international wine labels.

The National Indian Gaming Commission in 2024 approved a seven-year management agreement between Station Casinos and the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians — one of the largest tribes in California with more than 3,000 citizens.

Station previously operated two California tribal casinos in the Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Sacramento, which is owned by the United Auburn Indian Community; and the Graton Resort & Casino near Santa Rosa, owned by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.

The Las Vegas-based company turned the casinos over to the tribes when their seven-year management agreements expired.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at [email protected]. Follow @tdewey33 on X.