New Sky River Casino in California to include 12-Table Poker Room

While many casinos are still struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, a new venue is under construction in Elk Grove, California. The Wilton Rancheria tribe has teamed up with Boyd Gaming to create a new venue called Sky River Casino. The property is in the early stages and will not open until next year. However, poker fans will be excited to hear that the casino floor will include a poker room with 12 gaming tables.

Details of the Project

The casino will cost $400 million to create and will be located in just over 35 acres of land to the west of Highway 99. The project was approved two years ago by the National Indian Gaming Commission. The land was put in trust back in early 2017 and a gaming compact was signed by the tribe at the same time.

With the construction of Sky River, it marks the 7thcasino located near Sacramento that is tribal run. The casino will offer the full poker room, along with over 80 table games, and 2,000 slots. The property will also be home to a dozen dining areas as well as a hotel and convention center. The news of the poker room addition was first broke by Poker News.

Boyd Gaming will be the developer and manager of the project for the tribe. The company is based in Las Vegas and already operates casinos in seven other states. It is expected that the project will create construction jobs as well as many options for employees once the venue is up and running.

The Wilton Rancheria tribe is set to invest $186 million within the first 20 years of operation into Elk Grove as well as the county to provide help to schools, police, road work, and additional needs.

Ready to Get Started

Wilton Rancheria and Boyd Gaming are excited to get started. Last week, a ground-breaking ceremony took place with several Elk Grove officials in attendance including Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen. Tribal Chairman Jesus Tarango commented on the upcoming project, stating that the tribe is excited to have achieved this ‘critical milestone’ when it comes to economic development and working towards self-sufficiency.

The Chairman thanked Boyd Gaming along with the community of Elk Grove, the city, and leaders on every level for their support and belief in the tribe’s vision for a better future.

Boyd Gaming Chief Executive Officer and President, Keith Smith, also commented on the partnership, stating it is an honor to partner with Wilton Rancheria. Smith said together the tribe and gaming company will create an entertainment destination that the community can be proud of. The project will also provide significant and lasting benefits to the city and the tribe.

While it will take some time to complete, it is motivating to see the tribe getting started on this long-running idea and starting to see real progress with the new casino. Adding in a poker room provides players with even more gaming options at the venue once it is open for business.