Elk Grove’s Sky River Casino to Open in Early September

Casino officials for Elk Grove’s Sky River Casino have announced that the casino is set to open in early September, two months ahead of schedule.

Casino officials did not specify a date in their announcement, but work on the 100,000-square-foot casino west of Highway 99 near Kammerer Road is nearly complete as hiring continues.

The Wilton Rancheria tribe near Elk Grove and casino developer Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming kicked off the $500 million project on 35 acres amid much fanfare in March 2021.

Elk Grove and Wilton Rancheria leaders quickly touted the casino — the closest to the capital city in a highly competitive Sacramento-area tribal gaming market — as both a regional destination, an economic engine for a growing Elk Grove and a path to self-sufficiency for the long-struggling Wilton Rancheria.

The tribe’s federal designation was stripped nearly 60 years ago. The designation was restored in 2009, but years of legal battles to win a gaming compact and buy land that paved the way for a casino followed.

Wilton Rancheria Tribal Chairman Jesus Tarango spoke to the tribe’s struggles in remarks as part of the announcement. “Our people have fought for decades to achieve self-sufficiency. We fought for tribal recognition, for our land and for this historic project. We are privileged to partner with Boyd Gaming and look forward to the opening of Sky River, which will bring jobs and long-term benefits to our tribe, our community and the region,” Tarango said.