Wilton Rancheria has announced it will pay the city of Elk Grove, California a total of $50,000 for the use of its police force, according to a report by the Sacramento Bee. The operator has used local police services since the grand opening of the Sky River Casino last month.
Sacramento County’s first tribal casino recently opened its doors weeks ahead of schedule from its original September launch date. Sky River features 17 restaurants and bars, as well as a tap room and steak house that offers patrons a variety of locally brewed beers.
The casino and Elk Grove police began working together on a part-time and temporary basis after the venue opened. Since the opening, local law enforcement has provided services to the casino during peak operating hours and will continue to assist Sky River “for the next several months, then later as needed,” according to Elk Grove officials.
Officer duties for the casino are currently “classified as overtime work.”
According to staff report released this month by city officials, Sky River’s requests for services from off-duty police officers has been “significantly higher than anticipated.” The report also noted that Elk Grove is “expected to pass the $50,000 threshold needed for approval by Elk Grove City Council.”
Under the terms of the pact between the city and Wilton Rancheria, the tribe will pay “full overtime costs of officers working at Sky River Casino facilities and events.”
Nearly 80 tables games and 2,000 slot machines make up the Sky River’s 100,000 square-foot gaming floor, with total space throughout the casino reaching 300,000 square feet.
