SACRAMENTO — Red Rock Resorts is set to capitalize on opportunities in Northern California.
In collaboration with Boyd Gaming and Caesars Entertainment, the company is developing and managing casino-resorts alongside local tribes looking to gain a share of the largest Indian gaming market in the United States.
Red Rock, previously in charge of Thunder Valley Casino from 2003 to 2010 and Graton Resort & Casino from 2013 to 2021, is re-entering the market. Last year, they began building a tribal casino in Madera, located 30 miles north of Fresno and 140 miles south of Sacramento.
Boyd operates a casino in Elk Grove, a Sacramento suburb, and Caesars has a tribal casino in rural Ione, with plans for another property.
This new wave of tribal casino developments in Northern California raises questions about whether California’s tribal gaming will increasingly draw business away from Northern Nevada’s prominent gaming locations, Reno and Lake Tahoe. Historically, the emergence of California tribal casinos at the start of the century has already impacted Northern Nevada, with Reno’s gaming revenue decreasing nearly 12% since 2000, while South Tahoe has experienced a 30% drop over 24 years.
Despite these challenges, experts in the gaming industry suggest that Reno’s shift away from a solely gaming-focused economy might safeguard it against competition from California. “The recent openings in California won’t significantly affect Reno resorts,” said Buddy Frank, a long-time gaming consultant. “The initial damage occurred years ago with Thunder Valley and Cache Creek affecting Bay Area markets.”
Carlo Santarelli, a seasoned gaming analyst, believes that the Reno-Tahoe market will maintain stability, citing unique regional advantages. “Reno-Tahoe has solid drivers that will ensure its stability despite new tribal casinos in Northern California,” he stated.
