Peebles Bergin Schulte & Robinson LLP proudly announces the approval of a new Tribal-State Gaming Compact between the Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians and the State of California. The compact was deemed approved by operation of law and published in the Federal Register on September 22, 2025.
The Tribe and the State began negotiations for a new compact in 2020. When those talks stalled, the Tribe filed suit in July 2022 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, alleging that the State failed to negotiate in good faith as required by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA). The Tribe challenged the State's insistence on imposing intrusive regulatory standards.
Shortly thereafter, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that similar demands by the State in negotiations with other tribes were unlawful. On June 8, 2023, the District Court entered a stipulated settlement in which the State acknowledged that it had not negotiated in good faith. The Court ordered the parties to proceed through IGRA's remedial process, which required renewed negotiations. Those efforts ultimately produced the compact approved this month.
The newly approved compact expands the Tribe's authorized number of gaming machines and facilities, modernizes revenue-sharing provisions, and ensures compliance with IGRA's regulatory framework. These changes create meaningful opportunities for economic development, self-sufficiency, and investments that will benefit both the Tribe and surrounding communities.
Partners John M. Peebles, Patrick R. Bergin, and Tim Hennessy represented the Tribe throughout the negotiation and litigation process.
"This compact is the product of persistence, advocacy, and the Tribe's unwavering commitment to secure fair treatment under federal law," said Managing Partner Patrick Bergin. "It marks a new chapter in the Tribe's economic development and self-determination."