Sky River Casino - 2022 News Archive

Sky River Casino - Photos | Facebook

December 30, 2022

Since opening last August, Sky River Casino has become a favorite gaming destination for players in the Sacramento area. Here is a photo collection of Sky River fans from the casino's Facebook page. More photos are available at Facebook.

Sky River Casino is expanding parking area

October 20, 2022

The success of Sky River Casino has created a parking shortage at the casino. Since opening Aug. 18th, many casino visitors are parking in the surrounding residential areas. In September Sky River launched a fast-track project to alleviate the problem.

An additional 6-acre parking area is currently under construction on the southwest side of the casino. This $1.6 million project will add 500 new vehicle parking spaces for visitors.

Sky River Casino to complete parking lot by month's end
Courtesy of BS Sacramento, Oct 18, 2022. Available from YouTube

The new parking area will open to visitors by Oct. 31st.

Sky River Casino provides self-sufficiency to Wilton Rancheria

October 2, 2022

Sky River Casino opened Aug. 16th, two weeks ahead of schedule, and is already showing signs of financial success. The $500 million casino is expected to bring economic self-sufficiency to Wilton Rancheria, which provides housing, education, healthcare and other needed services to its 853 members.

Wilton Rancheria owns the Sky River Casino, which is located on the tribe's reservation land. Wilton Rancheria has partnered with Boyd Gaming to develop and manage the operation of the casino.

Tribal chairman, Jesus Tarango, said:

"When you think about who we are as a people, you really can't have a community unless you have a land base,and this is the only land we have that's in trust status for us. Today is a beautiful day because it's almost as if our people are coming home and we have a place to call home. It truly should do what it's supposed to do - it's supposed to take us into self-sufficiency and provide us with an economic boost."

- Jesus Tarango, Wilton Rancheria

Sky River Casino management is optimistic about expansion over the next few years. President and CEO, Chris Gibase, told the Elk Grove Citizen the following:

"If you look, all four sides of this building are capable of expanding. So you can expect a large hotel, entertainment complexes, showrooms, spas, pools - pretty much everything you would see in a Las Vegas Strip hotel will be on this property. This will be an economic driver for not only Elk Grove, but for Sacramento County."

- Chris Gibase, Sky River Casino

Surprise! Sky River Casino in Elk Grove opened today Aug 16th!

August 15, 2022 at 10:30 p.m.

What a surprise! The Sky River Casino in Elk Grove opened just after midnight this morning after previously announcing the casino opening date would be in early September.

Sky River Casino in Elk Grove surprises customers, opens about a month early
Courtesy of ABC10, Aug 16, 2022. Available from YouTube

Sky River Casino posted the surprise opening on social media at medinight, and within half an hour 600 people showed up. The casino opened with 2,190 slot machines, 81 table games and 17 restaurants and bars.

Sky River Casino shortens opening date to early September

July 20, 2022

Sky River Casino announced Monday the new Elk Grove casino will open in early September rather in November as earlier announced. The exact date in September was not released; however, a reasonable target date would be over Labor Day weekend.

Sky River Casino in Elk Grove to open in September - Courtesy of KCRA News, Jul 19, 2022. Available from YouTube

Wilton Rancheria owns Sky River Casino. The tribe has contracted with Boyd Gaming to manage the daily operations.

"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."

- Tribal Chairman Jesus Tarango

Sky River Casino announces restaurant lineup

July 9, 2022

As the November grand opening approaches, the new Sky River Casino in Elk Grove has announced its lineup of new restaurants for opening day. The list features a 12-venue marketplace, an upscale steakhouse, pub house, and a chinese hot pot and dim sum restaurant.

SR Prime Steakhouse: This upscale steakhouse will serve prime steaks and seafood with fine wine, whiskey and local craft beers.

32 Brews Street: This will be a pubhouse restaurant serving appetizers and entrees and specializing in draft beers, California wines and cocktails.

Dragonbeaux: This authentic chinese restaurant will serve traditional dim sum and hot pot specialities.

The Market at Sky River: The Market will be one venue featuring 12 unique restaurants.

Aurelia's Taqueria - street tacos

Butcher's Burger - burgers and fries

CA99 Hot Chicken - Southern-style chicken and sides

Fukuro by Kru - Japanese cuisine

Chickie & Tony's Pizza - Neapolitan, wood-fired pizzas

Global Eats - menu items from Greece, the Middle East, India, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, France, Germany, and Switzerland

Koi Palace Express - Dim Sum, Canton-style seafood, wok dishes, Peking Duck and noodle bowls

Indulge - sweets, pies, pastries, ice cream, Real Pie

Ocean - seafood includes oysters, shrimp, crab legs, ceviche, and poke

Roli Roti - rotisserie chicken and porchetta sandwiches

Sky River Java - quick service coffee, espresso, and teas

Upper Barrel - world wines, California wines

Bars and Lounges:There will also be two bars, the River Bar and Rock Bar.

Sky River is hiring prior to casino opening

May 7, 2022

As construction continues towards completion this fall, the $500 million Sky River Casino in Elk Grove has started an early recruitment program to hire 2,000 employees. Applicants are needed in a wide variety of job categories.

Sky River Casino is planning a series of hiring events in the Sacramento-area. The first job fair is scheduled this week on Monday May 9th. More hiring events will be announced over the next several months.

JOB FAIR MAY 9
Rocklin Events Center
2650 Sunset Blvd.
Rocklin, CA
Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sky River has also set up a website for applicants to review and register for job openings. If interested, visit Sky River Casino Careers.

Sky River Casino is expected to have its grand opening in November.

Sky River Casino: Construction Update April 2022

April 5, 2022

After one year of construction, a crew of 1,700 workers is well underway with the first phase of the Sky River Casino project scheduled for completion by November of this year. The first phase includes a 110,260 sq-ft gaming floor with 2,190 slot machines, 81 table games, 12-table poker room and a high-limit gaming area. There will also be a steakhouse, Asian restaurant, gastropub and a food marketplace.

Hiring of full-time employees is also underway. The current job openings include executive chefs, restaurant managers, marketing and administrative positions.

Construction at Sky River Casino began March 9, 2021.

Sky River Casino's opening date moves up to "Early Fall 2022"

February 9, 2022

Last December the Wilton Rancheria chairman announced the opening of Sky River Casino would be in late 2022. This week the opening date was refined and updated to Fall 2022.

Wilton Rancheria has partnered with Boyd Gaming of Las Vegas to manage the daily operations of Sky River Casino. In a public meeting this week, Keith Smith, Boyd Gaming President and Chief Executive Officer, made this statement:

"Sky River Casino is on budget and on schedule to open early this fall.

"The building structure is now complete, and our focus has turned to completing the interior and the infrastructure for this operation."

- Keith Smith, Boyd Gaming

The Wilton Rancheria will pay a management fee to Boyd Gaming for operating Sky River Casino under a seven-year agreement.

Sky River casino construction is on schedule for late 2022 opening

January 5, 2022

On Dec. 19 Wilton Rancheria Chairman, Jesus Tarango, reconfirmed the construction of the Sky River Casino is on schedule for completion later this year.

"I'm still looking forward to opening next fall. Probably at the end of that third quarter, at the beginning of the fourth quarter, somewhere in October, or somewhere around that.

"You're starting to see some of the exterior stuff up. The walls, ceiling, and everything is almost completely complete, and hopefully next month or so, we'll be inside."

- Jesus Tarango, Chair Wilton Rancheria

Construction begain in March 2021. In August the steel framing was completed. Sky River will feature 2,190 slot machines, 80 gaming tables and 12 dining venues.