The Mechoopda Indian Tribe has introduced the suspension of operations at its on line casino in Oroville, California, lower than a 12 months after it first opened its doorways. The choice was made by the Mechoopda Financial Gaming Authority(MEGA) Board, which cited a mix of operational challenges and exterior elements that in the end rendered the on line casino’s continued operation unsustainable. The Mechoopda on line casino, positioned in Butte Valley between the cities of Chico and Oroville, opened in February 2024 after greater than 20 years of planning and authorized battles.
Challenges and setbacks led to the closure choice:
Dennis Ramirez, the Tribal Chairman of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe, referred to as the choice to shut the on line casino on January 31, 2025, “heart-wrenching,” emphasizing the affect it will have on each the tribe and the encircling neighborhood. “Suspending operations on the on line casino is a heart-wrenching choice that impacts not solely our Tribe but additionally our valued workers, prospects, and the encircling neighborhood,” Ramirez stated, in accordance with Chico Information & Overview. Nevertheless, regardless of the closure, he affirmed that the tribe stays devoted to its long-term imaginative and prescient for the on line casino. “For over 25 years, this venture has been a cornerstone of our financial growth objectives, and we are going to proceed to work towards its future reopening.”
The Mechoopda On line casino, housed in a particular 42,000-square-foot construction, employed greater than 90 individuals on the time of its opening. The venue boasted a variety of facilities, together with 480 slot machines, a restaurant, a restaurant, and a bar. It was constructed in an engineered tent construction, designed to be constructed quicker and extra affordably than conventional brick-and-mortar casinos. Nevertheless, the institution confronted stiff competitors from different close by tribal casinos, together with Feather Falls On line casino and Gold Nation On line casino & Resort, that are each positioned inside Butte County.
Though the on line casino was a venture a few years within the making, ongoing operational struggles and monetary elements in the end led the MEGA Board to conclude that it will be unfeasible to maintain the enterprise operating. Because of this, roughly 64 jobs are anticipated to be misplaced with the closure, and the tribe has pledged to help affected workers throughout this tough transition. The tribe has promised to supply “sources and steerage” to its workforce, although particulars on particular assist packages weren’t offered on the time of reporting.
The closure comes after a contentious battle for a gaming compact with the state, which the tribe lastly obtained in 2018. This adopted greater than ten years of authorized disputes with Butte County officers. Regardless of the progress that had been made in getting the on line casino operational, ongoing monetary hurdles and market challenges seem to have outweighed the potential advantages.
An extended-term imaginative and prescient for the tribe’s financial growth:
Although the on line casino’s closure marks a serious setback for the Mechoopda Tribe, Chairman Ramirez stays optimistic concerning the tribe’s future. “This choice is undoubtedly a difficult second for our Tribe, however we stay resilient and dedicated to overcoming this setback,” Ramirez stated. “Our Tribe has confronted challenges earlier than and emerged stronger. We’re assured in our capacity to take action once more.”
There’s at the moment no set timeline for when the on line casino may reopen, however tribal management has dedicated to exploring future potentialities for the power. The closure additionally brings renewed consideration to the Mechoopda Tribe’s lengthy historical past and the challenges it has confronted. Not too long ago, the tribe’s connection to the Bidwell Mansion in Chico got here again into the highlight following a devastating arson assault on the mansion property. The mansion sits on land that when belonged to the Mechoopda, who had been pressured to relocate beneath tragic circumstances. Some neighborhood members have advised turning the Bidwell State Historic Park right into a tribute to Mechoopda tradition, although the tribe has not but weighed in on this concept.
The closure of the Mechoopda On line casino is comparatively uncommon inside the Indian gaming trade. As Tribal Enterprise Information experiences, a consultant from the Nationwide Indian Gaming Fee commented that on line casino closures of this magnitude are “unusual,” indicating that the tribe’s choice to droop operations will not be a frequent prevalence within the trade. Regardless of the challenges, the Mechoopda Tribe has expressed its intention to proceed working towards its purpose of fostering financial growth and alternative for its members, even when the on line casino’s closure represents a short lived setback.
