sweetening
THE POT
Tribal casinos in the Capital Region have major construction projects underway
BY Graham Womack | PHOTO BY Carl Costas
Tribal gaming can be major business in the United States . Gaming revenues for the 2020 fiscal year hit $ 27.8 billion , according to figures released in August 2020 by the National Indian Gaming Commission . While this amount represented a 19.5 percent decrease from the previous year — which saw $ 34.6 billion in gross revenues and the ninth consecutive year of a new record — tribes still averaged roughly $ 53 million in revenue per gaming operation even during a time wracked by the coronavirus pandemic and shutdowns .
Amid the ongoing pandemic , several tribes in the Capital Region are either building new casinos or undertaking significant expansions of existing operations . Wilton Rancheria recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its $ 500 million Sky River Casino in Elk
Grove , which is being built by AECOM Tishman and Yates Construction and is slated to open in the second half of 2022 . United Auburn Indian Community had a similar ceremony for The Venue , a 4,500-seat , $ 100 million indoor entertainment facility at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln . The facility is being designed by OTJ Architects and built by McCarthy Building Companies to be completed by early 2023 .
Meanwhile , Enterprise Rancheria , which opened its $ 470 million Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain in Wheatland in late 2019 , is already working with architect Friedmutter Design Group , theater and interior designer Sceno Plus , and contractor Moorefield Construction on an approximately $ 75 million expansion . This includes a 2,500-seat Hard Rock Live music venue that could open by next May .
November 2021 | comstocksmag . com 47