The D.C. Court of Appeals on April 16 upheld the U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI) decision to recognize the Wilton Rancheria as a federally recognized tribe, and place its land into a federal trust for the tribe’s casino.

The Wilton Rancheria and its partner, Boyd Gaming Corporation, broke ground last month for the tribe’s future, $500 million Sky River Casino on the former site of the “Ghost Mall” at Highway 99 and Kammerer Road. The tribe plans to open their casino on their 36-acre property in late 2022.