Sky River Casino in Elk Grove opens ahead of schedule
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Sacramento County's first tribal gaming casino opened early in Elk Grove. Sky River Casino, off Highway 99 at Kammerer Road, was supposed to begin operating in September, but the doors opened at midnight on Tuesday.By 3 a.m., the parking lot was jam-packed and hundreds of people were already gambling in Elk Grove.Sky River Casino said it's hired 2,000 people from the area and the business will easily bring in $125 million to the local economy over the next few years.The casino has 17 restaurants and bars featuring a steak house and tap room with dozens of local beers. Overall, the casino is 300,000 square feet with 100,000 square feet of space dedicated to gaming. There are 2,000 slot machines and 80 tables. Officials say that after years and years of planning at the site of an abandoned mall complex in Elk Grove this is a dream come true. They are even referring to the casino for marketing purposes as "Sac Vegas."“This is a game changer, an entertainment complex like no other," said Chris Jibase, Sky River Casino's president.Jesus Tarango, the chairman of Wilton Rancheria, said, "I think it goes back to the ghost mall, so the residents of Elk Grove remember what this place looked like and so to see what it is now and what it is going to become it truly is a special moment, important to Elk Grove and also my people."Officials made a last-minute decision to open at midnight, so not all of the restaurants are open for their first day of business. The plan is to add a spa and a hotel in the future. The community is encouraged to go online and apply to become a team member at Sky River Casino.Previous coverage in video below.
ELK GROVE, Calif. —
Sacramento County's first tribal gaming casino opened early in Elk Grove.
Sky River Casino, off Highway 99 at Kammerer Road, was supposed to begin operating in September, but the doors opened at midnight on Tuesday.
By 3 a.m., the parking lot was jam-packed and hundreds of people were already gambling in Elk Grove.
Sky River Casino said it's hired 2,000 people from the area and the business will easily bring in $125 million to the local economy over the next few years.
The casino has 17 restaurants and bars featuring a steak house and tap room with dozens of local beers.
Overall, the casino is 300,000 square feet with 100,000 square feet of space dedicated to gaming. There are 2,000 slot machines and 80 tables.
Officials say that after years and years of planning at the site of an abandoned mall complex in Elk Grove this is a dream come true. They are even referring to the casino for marketing purposes as "Sac Vegas."
“This is a game changer, an entertainment complex like no other," said Chris Jibase, Sky River Casino's president.
Jesus Tarango, the chairman of Wilton Rancheria, said, "I think it goes back to the ghost mall, so the residents of Elk Grove remember what this place looked like and so to see what it is now and what it is going to become it truly is a special moment, important to Elk Grove and also my people."
Officials made a last-minute decision to open at midnight, so not all of the restaurants are open for their first day of business.
The plan is to add a spa and a hotel in the future.
The community is encouraged to go online and apply to become a team member at Sky River Casino.
