Wilton Rancheria Casino Opening Date

The Wilton Rancheria Casino & Resort Project, a project that started back in 2013, has seen its opening projection date delayed even further down the road, as it was initially projected for opening in late 2020, but now that date turns out to be a bit optimistic. Wilton Resort Casino Spa was scheduled to open in the fall of 2021. Although that won’t happen, Hitchcock said the pandemic is simply a pause, and construction will resume when the financial.

For years, the Wilton Rancheria has discussed plans to open a major new casino-resort in northern California. The tribe is now working to gain approval from various state government bodies. This week, the tribe received a guarantee of support by the Cosumnes Community Services District.

It’s great news for the tribe, which currently plans to open this new venue in 2021. Today, we’re going to look at what exactly this venue will have to offer. We’ll also look at the current state of California’s casino industry.

Let’s get into it!

California’s Casino Industry Remains Shut Down

All around the United States, land-based casinos are completely closed down. It’s all due to the new coronavirus, which has now infected more than 420,000 individuals around the country. It’s been devastating for casino companies, some of which are losing an incredible amount of money every single day.

Of course, some parts of the country are being affected by the casino shutdowns more than others. In places like Las Vegas and Atlantic City, this has been incredibly troublesome. A huge number of businesses are now shut down in these areas and tourism has slowed down considerably.

California is under stay-at-home orders. Essentially, residents in the state are unable to leave their homes for anything non-essential. Obviously, this means casinos in the state are unable to open their doors to the general public.

It’s still unclear when these casinos will be able to open again. Despite that fact, several tribes are currently working on plans to open new gambling venues in the state. This includes the Wilton Rancheria.

As we’ve already mentioned, this tribe plans to open a brand new casino-resort next year. This week, they’ve taken a major step forward to get this done.

CSD Agrees to Support Wilton Rancheria With Medical Services

It’s not easy to open a new casino-resort in California. Native American tribes need to gain approval and support from various government bodies. This week, the Cosumnes Community Services District has agreed to provide the Wilton Rancheria with medical services for its proposed casino-resort.

Under the current agreement, the tribe will provide the CSD with several things including a new fire truck, a one-time payment of $805,500 and an annual fee of $887,500. The agreement also makes the Cosumnes Fire Department the exclusive agency to provide fire services for the casino-resort.

Raymond “Chuckie” Hitchcock, a chairman at the Wilton Rancheria, spoke about this new agreement to the media this week.

“We’re excited for our future and our generational partnership between the tribe and the (CSD),” he said. “You are the lifeline between the safety of our future employees and patrons, (you are) the protectors of our gaming facility in the case of any structural emergency.”

CSD Director Rod Brewer also praised the new partnership this week.

“It took a lot of years and a lot of conversations in just making sure that the stars are aligned to make sure we have something that is mutually beneficial,” Brewer said.

This is a huge move for this tribal group. With this now settled, the tribe can begin looking at construction plans. Of course, we’ll need to want and see how long it takes for the state’s land-based casino industry to get back up and running.

US Land-Based Casino Revenue Continues to Drop

As everyone knows, this is a tough time for the land-based casino industry. Casinos across the country are shut down and no one can say when they’ll open back up. For some casino operators, this will have permanent effects.

Revenue from this industry continues to drop. In New Jersey, for example, casino companies are losing millions of dollars every month. The same is happening in Las Vegas.

California casinos are hurting, as well. All of the Native American gambling venues in the state are currently shut down. There are some analysts that believe things will remain this way for at least a few months.

Despite that fact, the Wilton Rancheria is focused on opening its new casino-resort. This tribe is banking on this whole situation being cleared up by next year. With support from the CSD, this casino is on track to open in 2021.

Major casino companies continue to ask the government for financial aid. Hope is that the stimulus package provides these companies with some relief. Another package is likely to be approved in the coming months.

Stay tuned for more US casino news over the next few weeks!

Wilton Rancheria’s plan to open the first tribal gaming property in Sacramento County, Calif. will have to a wait awhile longer than previously hoped because of plans to redesign some parts of the venue.

Wilton Rancheria Chairman Raymond Hitchcock highlights plans for a casino that will open in 2021, not this year, as expected. (Image: Elk Grove Citizen)

Last year, the tribe said it was targeting a late 2020 opening for the gaming property. But that date is being pushed back to late next year. Wilton Rancheria Chairman Raymond Hitchcock said “a few areas” called for redesign, and that caused delays. But he noted the effort is now “back on track.” Hitchcock didn’t identify what parts of the project required alteration.

As far as an update on timing, we’re most likely waiting for the spring to hit, so we’re not in the wet season, because we have in-ground infrastructure,” he said in an interview with The Elk Grove Citizen. “And it’s an 18-month (construction process). So, if you do the math, that’s late 2021 for opening for the project.”

Wilton Rancheria is building the gaming property on a 35.9-acre patch of land along Highway 99 in Elk Grove, Calif. The tribe is working with Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming on the project and it’s expected to create 1,600 construction jobs and 1,750 permanent roles once the venue opens.

Wilton Rancheria Casino Opening Date

Lingering Opposition

As Casino.org reported last October, Wilton Rancheria scored a legal win to move forward with the project after US District Court Trevor McFadden dismissed a motion seeking to block the gaming property brought by Stand Up for California!

Stand Up for California! is an activist group with a history of opposing tribal gaming expansion in the Golden State.

“At the federal level, we are seeking amendments to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and changes in policy and administration rules that enhance regulatory oversight and give voice to affected parties in the location, size and scope of tribal gaming developments,” according to the organization.

Regarding the Wilton Rancheria plan, Stand Up for California! believes the case isn’t closed and is appealing McFadden’s ruling.

Hitchcock said the tribe will move forward with building the gaming property, dismissing Stand Up’s legal maneuvering as “white noise.”

Costs And Plans

The land on which the Elk Grove casino will be situated was acquired by the tribe and Boyd Gaming in 2017 for $36 million, or about $1 million per acre. Wilton Rancheria forecast total construction cost at $500 million.

When finished, 97.3 percent of the square footage will be allocated to non-gaming amenities, such as hotel rooms, meeting space, restaurants, and shops. The remaining space will be allocated to the casino floor, but the tribe hasn’t yet released a breakdown of slots and table games.

The largest tribal gaming property in Northern California is Thunder Valley Casino-Resort in Lincoln. That venue has 144,500 square feet of gaming space, with 2,700 slot machines and 103 table games, a poker room and a bingo area.

Wilton Rancheria Casino Opening Dates

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