California Casinos Asked by Gov. Gavin Newsom to Reconsider Reopening Plans
Posted on: May 17, 2020, 10:18h.
Last updated on: May 17, 2020, 11:15h.
California casinos owned by Native American tribes are planning to reopen their gaming spaces in the coming weeks, something Governor Gavin Newsom (D) is requesting they postpone.
California is home to tribal casinos and commercial card clubs. The Native American facilities aren’t required to adhere to state orders, as they are sovereign governments operating on their federally recognized reservations.
Still, all closed their casinos in an effort to help slow the spread and contain COVID-19. But with gaming the primary economic engine for the majority of the Native American governments, many tribes are itching to reopen.
I urge tribal governments to reconsider and instead make those determinations based on how they align with the current local public health conditions and the statewide stage of reopening,” Newsom wrote in a letter to the state’s tribes.
One California tribal casino has already reopened. Win-River Resort & Casino in the Northern California town of Redding unlocked its doors yesterday and says it will be open 24/7 moving forward.
Numerous safety measures are in place at Win-River, including reduced occupancy and social distancing protocols. Masks are mandatory to enter the facility and alcohol isn’t being served, but smoking is permitted. Table game operations are set to resume on Wednesday.
California’s dozens of card clubs will remain shuttered until the state government grants them permission to reopen. Notable locations include The Bicycle, Commerce, Hustler, and Hawaiian Gardens.?
Newsom Plea
The governor says he isn’t asking the California casinos to receive state authorization to reopen, as that would mean the state overstepping its legal authority. Instead, the first-term Democratic governor says that, “in the spirit of sovereign-to-sovereign engagement, I respectfully request that until a surrounding or neighboring local jurisdiction has legally processed into Stage 3, your tribal casinos remain closed.” California is currently in Newsom’s Stage 2 of reopening.
“The virus does not recognize jurisdictional boundaries, and it is in the best interest of public health to move toward reopening in concert,” Newsom concluded.
The governor’s letter comes after the Win-River reopening, and several other tribes deciding to announce reopening plans.
The Cahuilla Band of Indians and Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians – both located in Riverside County east of Los Angeles – say they will reopen their casinos May 27. The Pechanga Luiseno Indians plan to reopen their casino on June 1. Located outside San Diego, the Pechanga Resort Casino is the largest gaming venue in the state, with more than 5,000 slot machines and 150 table games.
Coronavirus Latest
California has 76,793 positive COVID-19 cases, with the disease cited for 3,204 deaths. Newsom said he cannot “stress enough that the risk of COVID-19 transmission remains a serious threat for Californians.”
Win-River is the only California casino that has resumed operations.
Nationwide, the American Gaming Association (AGA) says there are 55 gaming properties back open. The majority of the reopenings have been Native American facilities. The exception is in Deadwood, where the South Dakota city government voted on May 7 to allow the small commercial casinos in the historic town to resume business.
Related News Articles
Most Popular
Most Commented
Most Read
LOST VEGAS: First Documented ‘Trick Roll’ by a Prostitute
Corey Levitan
— September 9, 2024
Last Comments ( 5 )
I love playing the slots, but with the virus with huge numbers. There is no way I will be going to a tribal calif casino if they are allowing smoking. What good is a mask when they will be taking it off and blowing. Smoking probably projects the virus as coughing does. Why are they allowing these casinos to open when smoking can creates new cases.
Please! Close all the casino down. 1. They're none essential 2. No one enforcing mask and social distancing inside casino. 3. People drink and smoke with mask off .
Smoking should be done outdoors. It's not as if people will not gamble because they can't smoke. Seriously. If you build them, they will come. Dealers are less than six feet and yes, there's plexi glass and masks on dealers. Players don't need to wear them when smoking, so they are going to light one after another and blow it into dealer's cloth masks..And everyone in the room..Gross.Inhaling the smoke into their lungs then blowing covid 19 all around. I can't think of a faster way to spread the virus other than maybe the gym.I am sad that the Native Americans running the casinos are not more concerned about the public or their employees. They need to show responsibility to the community like they pledged to.
IT IS TIME ITS BEEN OVER A YEAR THAT IVE BEEN TO RIVER ROCK AND HAVE MONEY AND WANT TO PLAY NOW NOT TOMARROW OPEN IT UP WE ALL KNOW WHAT TO DO ........ LAKE COUNTY OPEN IT UP THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING TO LONG NOW THIS IS STUIPT PARKS ARE OPEN BUT THE BEACHS AT THE COAST ARE CLOSED Candace dont go to the ones that you think are opening to soon stay home we dont need you there THIS WAS DONE BY the new world order fouci and gates and wuho lab simple as that was planed GRATON CASINO OPEN YOUR DOORS YOU ALL HAVE LOST A LOT OF MONEY I KNOW THIS ITS ALL IN MY POCKITS NOW WITCH ONE WELL OPEN AND GET MY MONEY FIRST>>>>>>>>>
Casinos could open safely if they tested everyone at the door, logged a 24-hr right to enter on your card, and enforced social distancing and masks inside. Otherwise, they'll be killing their own customers. It's crazy enough to risk my money, yet I'm in for that. But I'm not in for risking my life--or the lives of others. Apparently, those casinos reopening too soon are willing to risk our lives for money and I will never go again to any of them that intend to criminally prey upon our weaknesses like this.