Sonoma County Casino Gains Development Partner, as Koi and Chickasaw Nations Team

Posted on: January 25, 2022, 09:18h. 

Last updated on: January 25, 2022, 10:04h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More

Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

A proposed tribal casino from the Koi Nation in Sonoma County has found a development partner in the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. The venue would be on 68 acres of land that is currently a vineyard and estate.

The Koi Nation was only federally recognized in 2019. The small California tribe is trying to establish its economic sovereignty by way of a casino resort in wine country. In order to achieve its dreams, the Koi people are bringing in the Chickasaw Nation, which has the financial resources to build such an entertainment destination and a lengthy track record of running casino resorts.

Not only does the Chickasaw Nation have great expertise in gaming and resorts, but they also share the same values as the Koi Nation. Chickasaw leaders understand the importance of this project to the restoration of our economic self-reliance because they have walked the same path many times in support of their own people’s future,” said Dino Beltran, vice chair and director of development for the Koi Nation.

In September, the tribe acquired the 68-acre property, located at 222 E. Shiloh Rd. in unincorporated Sonoma County, for $12.3 million. The Koi and Chickasaw nations plan to build a $600 million resort called Shiloh Casino & Resort.

Early resort plans call for 2,500 slot machines and table game positions, a 200-room hotel, six restaurants and bars, a meeting space, a spa, and a live concert venue.   

Funding Achieved

The Koi Nation made many headlines last year when it announced its casino ambitions. Many questions were raised, most critically being where the small tribe — whose membership totals less than 100 — was getting its money to fund such a development.

The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria accused the Koi people of reservation shopping — the act of a tribe seeking to establish historical ties to a market that is attractive for economic development. Reservation shopping often includes a tribe partnering with a financially sound commercial enterprise or another tribe.

Koi leaders say the Graton Rancheria argument is unjust, and that the tribe is only trying to protect its own economic interests in the region. The Koi Nation said it offered the Graton tribe the opportunity to partner on its Shiloh project, to no avail.

With the Chickasaws joining the Koi, the nation certainly has the financial backing to build the $600 million resort. The Chickasaw Nation membership totals more than 73,000 strong. The tribe owns and operates 22 casinos in Oklahoma, including WinStar World Casino and Resort, which is billed as the largest casino in the world.

The US Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs is still reviewing whether to take the Koi land into the federal trust.

Mutually Beneficial Agreement

The Koi Nation and Chickasaw Nation partnership should benefit both tribes.

Along with profit sharing, the Chickasaw pact with the Koi allows the Oklahoma tribe to venture outside its home state for the first time.