New 12-Table Poker Room Coming to Sky River Casino in 2022
Earlier this week, the Wilton Rancheria tribe and Boyd Gaming broke ground on Sky River Casino in Elk Grove, California. The new casino is scheduled to open in the second half of 2022 and PokerNews has confirmed there are plans for a 12-table poker room.
The $400 million casino project, which is being built on 35.9 acres of land west of Hwy 99, was approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) back in 2019. That followed the land having been placed in federal trust in February 2017 and then-Governor Jerry Brown and the Tribe signing a Gaming Compact, the California State Senate and Assembly then unanimously ratified that compact.
Sky River Casino will be the seventh tribal casino in the Sacramento region, though it will be the closest casino to both Sacramento and the South Bay Area. When it opens, the venues are slated to have not only the 12-table poker room, but also 2,000 slot machines, more than 80 table games, and 12 distinct dining options. In addition, there will be a hotel and convention center.
Sky River Casino is being developed and managed by Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming on behalf of the Tribe. Boyd operates casinos in Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Nevada. In Las Vegas, they’re known for operating venues such as The Orleans, Gold Coast, and Sam’s Town, just to name a few.
"We will create an entertainment destination that this entire community can take pride in, one that will deliver significant and lasting benefits for the Tribe and the City of Elk Grove.”
The casino project is expected to create thousands of jobs and major long-term benefits to the surrounding economy as Wilton Rancheria has agreed to invest $186 million over the first 20 years with the City of Elk Grove and Sacramento County to support police, schools, roads, and other services.
“We are excited to achieve this critical milestone in our economic development and path toward self-sufficiency,” said Tribal Chairman Jesus Tarango. “We thank Boyd Gaming, the Elk Grove community, the City, and leaders at the local, state, and federal level for their tireless support and for believing in our vision of a better future.”
“We are honored to partner with our friends at Wilton Rancheria in creating a secure and prosperous future for the Tribal membership and their generations to come,” said Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming. “Together, we will create an entertainment destination that this entire community can take pride in, one that will deliver significant and lasting benefits for the Tribe and the City of Elk Grove.”
On Tuesday, a groundbreaking ceremony was held with local officials attending, including Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen. Governor Gavin Newsom also delivered a congratulatory message via video.
Here’s a video on the Wilton Rancheria and how the new casino project came to be:
For more information, visit skyriver.com.
