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Wilton Rancheria Seeks 90 Acres of Sky River Casino Land for Federal Trust July 27, 2026 - A new federal trust initiative involving 90 acres surrounding Sky River Casino, adding a major milestone to the tribe's 2011-2026 land restoration and economic development ... Read more 2026 California Tribal Casino News Archive
Archived news items originally published in 2026.
This page contains archived news updates for California tibal casinos in 2026.These items were originally posted on the casino's profile page and have been preserved here as part ofthe 500 Nations legacy news archive. Major stories from this year may also appear as standalone articlesin the main News section.
➤ 2026 Headline News
Wilton Rancheria Seeks 90 Acres of Sky River Casino Land for Federal Trust July 27, 2026 - A new federal trust initiative involving 90 acres surrounding Sky River Casino, adding a major milestone to the tribe's 2011-2026 land restoration and economic development ... Read more 
Scotts Valley Band Quietly Opens Temporary Gaming Hall in Vallejo July 25, 2026 - The tribe's temporary casino in Vallejo officially opened yesterday as a "preview venue" in a $700M casino project under process reconsideration by the federal DOI ... Read more 
California Approves Fort Mojave Gaming Compact - Development plans still undisclosed July 25, 2026 - The Fort Mojave Indian Tribe has secured a new California Class III gaming compact, but no casino sites or development plans have been announc ... Read more 
CaliforniaToday, Yuhaaviatam of the San Manuel Nation Celebrates 40 Years of Tribal Gaming in California and Las Vegas July 24, 2026 - The Yuhaaviatam tribe owns the Yaamava' Casino and the Palms in Las ... Read more
Eagle Mountain Casino Expansion Enters Full Resort Construction Phase - 2026 Update July 12, 2026 - The project, which broke ground on July 1, 2025, marks the second phase of the tribe's relocation to its new Porterville ... Read more 
The Heights Casino Development Update - Trinidad Rancheria Advances Hotel and Infrastructure Projects July 7, 2026 - The centerpiece of the Rancheria's development program is a five-story, 100-room Hyatt Place hotel ... Read more 
California Court Strikes Down Blackjack Ban, Major Blow to Tribal Gaming Exclusivity July 1, 2026 - The decision halts a regulatory strategy tribes have relied on for more than two decades to challenge cardroom blackjack. Without the regulations, cardrooms retain a major ... Read more 
Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage Hotel Renovation Status - June 2026 June 30, 2026 - The $60M renovation of Aqua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage's 340-room hotel tower is continuing in phases through 2026 ... Read more 
Win-River Casino Relocation Status | June 2026 June 29, 2026 - The Redding Rancheria reaffirmed that the relocation project remains on track despite ongoing litigation. A court ruling is expected later this year and construction ... Read more 
Graton Resort & Casino: What's Still Coming in Its $1 Billion Expansion June 27, 2026 - Construction is entering its most transformative phase, shifting from gaming-floor growth to a multi-year build-out of new hotel capacity, major entertainment ... Read more 
Can North Fork Mono Casino Still Open This Fall Without State Approval? June 22, 2026 - With construction advancing on the long-delayed North Fork Mono Casino project, one question now dominates the conversation: ... Read more 
Vallejo City Council Approves MOU With Scotts Valley Tribe, Advancing Temporary Class II Casino Toward Opening June 21, 2026 - The Vallejo City Council has approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Scotts Valley Tribe ... Read more 
North Fork Mono Casino Launches Hiring Push for 1,500+ Jobs Ahead of Fall 2026 Opening June 20, 2026 - The North Fork Mono Casino has opened its doors to hire 1,500 new workers before its planned opening this Fall 2026. ... Read more 
Shiloh Casino & Resort Project Remains Blocked as Federal Review Stalls June 14, 2026 - The Koi Nation's proposed $600M casino project remains fully stalled nearly nine months after a federal judge overturned ... Read more 
Sky River Casino Expansion Update - June 2026 June 13, 2026 - As of June 2026, the multi-year expansion program at Sky River is fully underway, positioning Sky River as a future full-scale resort destination in the Sacramento region. ... Read more 
Hard Rock Sacramento Still Targeting 2026 Start for Multi-Billion-Dollar Expansion June 10, 2026 - The multi-phase development will transform 350 acres of newly acquired land into a large-scale entertainment district ... Read more 
Caesars Republic Sonoma County - Construction Update (June 2026) June 8, 2026 - Dry Creek Rancheria is transforming River Rock Casino into Caesars Republic Sonoma County, a new $300M resort now under construction ... Read more 
Sonoma CountyGraton Resort & Casino: What's Still Coming After the May 4 Opening June 3, 2026 - The $1B expansion at Graton Casino was not finished after the May 4 grand opening in this multi-year project. Construction is cont ... Read more
El Dorado CountyRed Hawk Casino Expansion Update | May 2026 May 25, 2026 - Red Hawk Casino is accelerating its 2026 expansion with a new bingo hall, a smoking-permitted gaming pavilion, a smoke-free main floor transition, and ... Read more
Solano CountyScotts Valley Tribe Races to Open Temporary Vallejo Casino Amid Regulatory Uncertainty May 16, 2026 - With black modular buildings nearly ready along Hwy 37, the Scotts Valley tribe is racing to open a temp ... Read more
Sonoma CountyNew Dining Venues Open at Graton Resort & Casino May 3, 2026 - Graton Resort & Casino opens three new dining venues inside its smoke-free casino expansion, part of a major investment by the Federated Indians ... Read more
Sonoma County
Graton Casino Expansion Opens Monday April 30, 2026 - Graton Resort & Casino will open its major expansion this Monday, May 4, unveiling a new 144,000-square-foot, smoke-free gaming floor that significantly ... Read more 
Madera CountyMadera Casino Construction Continues Under Federal Approval Despite Court Setback April 28, 2026 - The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians is pressing ahead with construction of its long-planned casino along Highway 99 ... Read more
Sacramento CountySky River Casino Begins Construction on 300-Room Resort Hotel April 27, 2026 - Wilton Rancheria has reached a major milestone in the development of its Sky River Casino property in Elk Grove, announcing the official ... Read more
Solano CountyVallejo Temporary Casino | Update April 2026 April 10, 2026 - What happened to the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians plan to open a temporary Vallejo casino last January or early 2026? So far, nothing has happened and an opening date ... Read more \
Sacramento CountySky River Casino | Expansion Adds Parking Garage March 26, 2026 - The ongoing expansion project at Sky River Casino achieved another milestone Tuesday with the opening of a new five-level parking garage with 1,600 spaces ... Read more
Sonoma CountyGraton Casino Expansion | Grand Opening May 4 March 22, 2026 - Graton Resort & Casino is undergoing a $1 billion, multi-year expansion project that will open its first phase on May 4. The first phase includes a new 144,000 sq ft, non ... Read more
Kern County Hard Rock Casino Tejon presents guitars to Kern County sheriff, fire chief March 19, 2026 - Hard Rock Casino Tejon has a partnership agreement with Kern County for police and fire protection services to Hard Rock ... Read more 
Sn Diego County Jamul Casino | Jamul Indian Village Documentary March 15, 2026 - Jamul Casino Resort produced this documentary about the Jamul Indian Village in San Diego County, where its ancestors have lived for 12,000 years ... Read more Archived News Articles
Blackjack will be banned in California cardrooms on April 1
February 11, 2026
Blackjack-style games will be banned in California cardrooms beginning April 1. The California Gaming Association says this will eliminate 50% of cardroom revenues.
This week the California Department of Justice (DOJ) announced two new rules with a major impact on cardrooms and their workaround to mimic casino table games using player dealer rotation and third party proposition player services (TPPPS).
[ No Ads ]Blackjack banned from California cardrooms - Courtesy of FOX40 News, Feb 11, 2026. Available from YouTube
Cardroom have been operating game variants of blackjack, baccarat, pai gow, 3-card poker, let-it-ride, and Caribbean stud. The new DOJ rules will ban these games and require the mandatory rotation of the player dealer position effective April 1st.
This is a major legal victory for California tribal casinos. The new rules will resolve the long fought tribal-cardroom disputes and reinforce the tribes' exclusive rights to house banked games
California cardrooms now face major economic decisions, including risks of closures, restructuring of game offerings, and other operational changes.
Sources:
California Department f Justice, Office of Administrative Law Approves DOJ Cardroom Regulations, February 9, 2026
Portions of this article were researched and developed with assistance from Microsoft Copilot (2026).
