LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION:  Since the 1990's, Station Casinos has been aggressively pursuing California Native Americans in order to open new casinos in the lucrative California market.  Here is some background on three Station Casinos tribal casino projects:

United Auburn Indian Community:   In 1991, the UAIC began efforts to be recognized by the federal government through a restoration act.  Its Restoration Act was sponsored by Congressman John Doolittle.  The Act included the promise not to seek a casino, and it also gave the UAIC special privilege for taking land into trust that allowed the UAIC to bypass the normal two-part determination process other tribes must undergo.  Upon obtaining restoration, the UAIC announced its plans to open a casino (Thunder Valley) in conjunction with Station Casinos, next to a frontage road along Highway 65 in Lincoln, 38 miles away from the original Auburn Rancheria. 

Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria:   in 1992, the "Federated Coast Miwok" began efforts to be recognized by the federal government.  In 1997, the group dropped its effort to be recognized as the Federated Coast Miwok, and instead, sought restoration as the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR) through  an Act of Congress written by FIGR Chairman Greg Sarris.  The Graton Rancheria Restoration Act was sponsored by Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey.  The Act included the promise not to seek a casino, and it also gave the FIGR special privilege for taking land into trust that allowed the FIGR to bypass the normal two-part determination process other tribes must undergo.  Upon obtaining restoration, the FIGR announced in 2003 that it  planned to open a casino in conjunction with Station Casinos (sound familiar?).  The first location for the casino was at the junction of Highway 37 and Highway 101 in southern Sonoma County. The present location, 245 acres "secured for the benefit of the tribe" by Station Casinos, is two blocks West of the Wilfred Avenue exit of Highway 101, and approximately 20 miles from the old Graton Rancheria on Occidental Road.

North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians:  In 2004, Station Casinos announced plans to develop a casino with the North Fork Rancheria, which lands had been restored to "Indian County" in the late 1980's, the result of a court action.  The site was not the old Rancheria site, which includes adequate land for a modest casino.  Instead, Station Casinos  "secured for the benefit of the Tribe" two parcels of land totaling 305 acres,  35 miles away from the North Fork Rancheria, and located right on Highway 99 north of the city of Madera.

Notice a trend?  This is what they call reservation shopping or casino shopping.  The goal is to find land for a casino located near a major highway.  It has nothing to do with anything but location, location, location.