New Casino

Education Representation Water Resources Land Use

Fresno Bee Article on New Casino:

Caesars, tribe will announce casino By E.J. Schultz The Fresno Bee
(Updated Thursday, September 16, 2004, 5:48 AM)

Caesars Entertainment and the Big Sandy Band of Western Mono Indians will announce a formal agreement today to build a $250 million casino on tribal land in the Friant-Auberry area, the gaming giant confirmed late Wednesday. The casino will include at least 2,000 slot machines and more than 75,000 square feet of gaming space. A 250- to 300-room hotel, restaurant, retail and meeting rooms are part of the project. Plans for the 48-acre development were announced in February. The casino should open in 2006, according to Caesars officials. The deal calls for Caesars to:

	Manage the casino for at least the first seven years.
	Assist the tribe in securing financing.
	Partner with the tribe in constructing the casino-resort and related facilities.
	Caesars will be paid management fees of 30% of net revenue and a one-time $7 million development fee.
	The tribe will own the casino-resort. Big Sandy operates the Mono Wind Casino, about 15 miles northeast of the planned casino.

"This collaboration will provide a new economic base for the tribe and Fresno County," said Connie Lewis, Big Sandy Rancheria tribal chairwoman. Regulators must approve the project. By then, the Las Vegas-based casino giant may be a subsidiary of Harrah's Entertainment, which in July announced plans to buy Caesars for $5.2 billion. The Caesars-Harrah's deal has raised antitrust concerns in some states, but not in California. Harrah's has a casino in San Diego, its lone operation in the state. The planned Friant-Auberry casino will be Caesars' first in California. The reporter can be reached at eschultz@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6637.

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