Economy curtails Indian casino expansion
By Dale Kasler, Sacramento Bee
The weak economy prompted Cache Creek Casino Resort to suspend a big expansion project Wednesday, shelving plans for an event center, parking garage and other amenities.
The announcement by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, which owns the casino in rural Capay Valley, provides further evidence of the struggles in the gambling industry. Tribal casinos in Northern California, plus the commercial operations in Reno and Lake Tahoe, have imposed layoffs and made other cutbacks in the past two years.
“The outlook for the economy, both locally and across the U.S., just made this decision necessary,” said tribal spokesman Greg Larsen.
The tribe said it will continue with the renovation to its 200-room hotel. But a 2,200-seat event center has been put on hold, along with a 900-vehicle garage and expanded gambling and restaurant space. The project was supposed to begin construction next year.