Federal Court Sustains Coquille Tribe Medford Gaming Approval Under Restoration Act
TL;DR — Federal judge upholds DOI approval placing 2.4-acre Medford property in trust for Coquille Tribe gaming under 1989 Restoration Act. September 4, 2026 ruling rejects suit by three neighboring tribes and sustains 30-machine facility. Expansion to 650 machines and $18.5M revenue projected, subject to appeal.
SCCG Take — Ruling clarifies restored-lands standards for off-reservation sites within statutory boundaries, reducing approval uncertainty for tribes but flagging persistent inter-tribal revenue friction and appeal exposure.
A federal judge has upheld the U.S. Department of the Interior’s decision to place a 2.4-acre property in Medford, Oregon, into trust for the Coquille Indian Tribe, clearing the way for continued gaming operations. U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta issued the memorandum opinion on September 4, 2026, granting summary judgment to the federal government and the Coquille Tribe as intervenor. The ruling rejects a challenge brought by the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, the Karuk Tribe, and the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation.
The lawsuit contested the Interior Department’s January 2025 approval under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The opposing tribes argued the land failed the restored lands exception and that the agency exceeded its authority. The court disagreed, determining the site falls squarely within the Coquille Restoration Act of 1989. That statute permits trust acquisitions inside the tribe’s five-county service area of Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, and Lane counties. Medford lies in Jackson County.
Court’s Application of the Restoration Act
The opinion traces the project’s history. The Coquille Tribe first applied in 2012 to place the parcel into trust for gaming. The Interior Department rejected the request in 2020 before reversing course with the January 2025 approval. Judge Mehta held the agency’s interpretation reasonable and adequately explained. He wrote: “Plaintiffs may disagree, but the court is not empowered to revisit the decision so long as it is ‘reasonable and reasonably explained.’”
The decision sustains the Cedars at Bear Creek facility at the former Roxy Ann Lanes site on South Pacific Highway. It currently operates with around 30 Class II gaming machines. The tribe also owns the adjacent Bear Creek Golf Course and Compass Hotel Medford. Coquille Tribal Chair Brenda Meade said the ruling confirmed the Restoration Act allows economic development across the designated counties. Meade added that revenue will support tribal services, programs, and initiatives.
Appeal Risks and Expansion Path
The ruling remains subject to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit as a final order. The project previously drew objections from Medford city officials, later resolved through a municipal services agreement, and criticism from U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, who called it a “casino arms race.” Longer-term plans call for a 16,000-square-foot gaming floor with 650 Class II machines. The Interior Department has estimated the completed facility could generate approximately $18.5 million in annual revenue.
As reported by World Casino News, the decision leaves the existing operation intact while the appeal window develops.
Reporting: World Casino News
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Restoration-Act clarity for off-reservation trust land unlocks tribal gaming expansion, but inter-tribal disputes and appeal risk remain live.
We track every trust-land fight because they set precedent for the 50+ tribal clients we connect to capital, tech, and regulatory strategy. This ruling lowers the bar for restored tribes acquiring off-reservation gaming sites inside statutory boundaries — a playbook others will follow, and one that intensifies revenue competition and legal friction across Indian Country.
- Judge upheld DOI's Jan 2025 approval placing 2.4-acre Medford site in trust under Coquille's 1989 Restoration Act
- Current 30-machine facility may expand to 650 machines, $18.5M revenue; three neighboring tribes can still appeal
- Precedent clarifies restored-lands exception, easing off-reservation approvals but stoking inter-tribal revenue disputes
SCCG angle: SCCG connects tribes navigating trust-land approvals and site expansions to the legal, regulatory, and capital networks that accelerate timelines and manage inter-tribal friction. We broker the relationships — from gaming suppliers to bond counsel — that turn a court win into operating revenue.
Gaming, betting and prediction markets — the desk’s read, every weekday.
Subscribe →