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Many Arizona casinos have temporarily closed as part of efforts to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.
The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise, also referred to as Navajo Gaming, was among the first to temporarily shutter its casino, Twin Arrows Casino Resort in Flagstaff, on March 17 through April 6.
PHOENIX — Gila River Casinos has shut down again amid concerns from employees during the coronavirus pandemic. ABC15 crews went to Lone Butte casino early Thursday morning where the sign was lit. Casino Arizona is on property belonging to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.It is located near Scottsdale. The casino's 100,000-square foot gaming floor has over 900 slot machines. Casino.org is the world's leading independent online gaming authority, providing trusted online casino news, guides, reviews and information since 1995.
Quincy Natay, chairman of the Navajo Gaming Board of Directors, noted that on top of general public health concerns, Navajo Gaming was especially concerned with the spread of the coronavirus among older populations.
© Nick Oza/The Republic Inside the Desert Diamond West Valley Casino in Glendale.'This public health crisis requires all of us to stand together to protect those most vulnerable in our communities, including our respected elders,' Natay said in a statement.
The decision to close or remain open was within the authority of each sovereign nation, according to the Arizona Department of Gaming.
Many tribal and non-tribal casinos across the country, in places such as Las Vegas, Michigan, Mississippi and Connecticut, have closed.
Arizona casinos temporarily close
Many casinos around Arizona initially took steps to increase sanitation and postpone concerts. By mid-March, more began to temporarily shut down to prevent the spread of the virus. Some have since extended those closures. Here's the latest:
Gila River Hotels & Casinos: The Gila River Indian Community, which operates Wild Horse Pass and Lone Butte near Chandler and Vee Quiva near Laveen, closed the casinos beginning on March 18. They are scheduled to reopen on April 30.
Casino Arizona News Today
Harrah's Ak-Chin Hotel and Casino: Caesars announced on March 17 a temporarily shut down of all properties in North America. Caesars' 55 world-wide locations includes Harrah's Ak-Chin Hotel and Casino, operated by the Ak-Chin Indian Community in Maricopa. The Ak-Chin Tribal Council released its own statement on March 18, saying the council had 'full support' in temporarily closing the resort and casino. 'Although Caesars Entertainment announced closures of its casinos earlier in the week, as a managed property, the ultimate decision to close Harrah's Ak-Chin was made by the Tribal Council,' they said in a statement.
Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort: The properties on the Salt River Reservation east of Scottsdale temporarily suspended casino and resort operations through April 30. The two locations are operated by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
Fort McDowell Casino: This location, operated by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, is closed until further notice, according to its website.
Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment: The three locations in southern Arizona (Tucson, Sahuarita and Why) and one near Glendale, all are owned and operated by the Tohono O'odham Gaming Enterprise, an enterprise of the Tohono O'odham Nation. All are temporarily closed through April 23.
Bucky's Casino and Yavapai Casino: These Prescott casinos on Highway 69, run by the Yavapai-Prescott tribe, temporarily suspended operations on March 19 through April 3.
Cliff Castle: The Camp Verde-based casino remains closed until further notice. A notice on the website says leadership is 'monitoring the situation day-by-day to plan our reopening.'
Of the Arizona casinos to close, no location has reported any COVID-19 cases among staff or guests. In a statement, Kenneth Manuel, CEO of Gila River Hotels & Casinos, said it was instead 'an ethical decision to protect our team members and our guests.'
Arizona sees other closures
Arizona gradually ramped up other closures through March. Gov. Doug Ducey initially encouraged Arizonans to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new recommendation to cancel events and gatherings with more than 50 people.
Coronavirus in Arizona
MORE RESOURCES: How to stay connected|Your questions, answered|10 things you should know|Can I get tested?
Coronavirus in AZ
Since then, he has issued a statewide public health emergency and mandated bars close and restricted restaurants to take-out or delivery only. On March 30, Ducey declared by executive order that Arizonans 'stay home' and only go outside for exercise or essential business.
Arizona is following @CDCgov's new guidance that large events and mass gatherings be cancelled. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings & other types of assemblies. See more: https://t.co/iLVOk6mixL
Reach the reporter at kfitzgeral@gannett.com or 480-356-6407. Follow her on Twitter @kfitz134. Reach the reporter Alison Steinbach at Alison.Steinbach@arizonarepublic.com.
Support local journalism.Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
As a public service, The Arizona Republic is offering coronavirus coverage relating to public safety free of charge. Support The Republic by subscribing to azcentral.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Some Arizona casinos extend temporary closures during coronavirus pandemic
Bucky's Casino and Yavapai Casino: These Prescott casinos on Highway 69, run by the Yavapai-Prescott tribe, temporarily suspended operations on March 19 through April 3.
Cliff Castle: The Camp Verde-based casino remains closed until further notice. A notice on the website says leadership is 'monitoring the situation day-by-day to plan our reopening.'
Of the Arizona casinos to close, no location has reported any COVID-19 cases among staff or guests. In a statement, Kenneth Manuel, CEO of Gila River Hotels & Casinos, said it was instead 'an ethical decision to protect our team members and our guests.'
Arizona sees other closures
Arizona gradually ramped up other closures through March. Gov. Doug Ducey initially encouraged Arizonans to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new recommendation to cancel events and gatherings with more than 50 people.
Coronavirus in Arizona
MORE RESOURCES: How to stay connected|Your questions, answered|10 things you should know|Can I get tested?
Coronavirus in AZ
Since then, he has issued a statewide public health emergency and mandated bars close and restricted restaurants to take-out or delivery only. On March 30, Ducey declared by executive order that Arizonans 'stay home' and only go outside for exercise or essential business.
Arizona is following @CDCgov's new guidance that large events and mass gatherings be cancelled. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings & other types of assemblies. See more: https://t.co/iLVOk6mixL
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) March 15, 2020Reach the reporter at kfitzgeral@gannett.com or 480-356-6407. Follow her on Twitter @kfitz134. Reach the reporter Alison Steinbach at Alison.Steinbach@arizonarepublic.com.
Support local journalism.Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
As a public service, The Arizona Republic is offering coronavirus coverage relating to public safety free of charge. Support The Republic by subscribing to azcentral.com.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Some Arizona casinos extend temporary closures during coronavirus pandemic
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Casinos run by the Navajo Nation plan to temporarily lay off more than 1,100 workers on New Year's Day because of prolonged closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The tribe's Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise announced the decision Thursday night, saying it was left with no choice but to move ahead with the layoffs because of lack of revenue caused by the closures.
'Due to the extended closure, since March 17, 2020, our business operations have been severely impacted and as a result, we must make very difficult financial and personnel decisions,' Brian Parrish, the tribal casino operation's Interim CEO, said in a statement.
The tribe operates four casinos in Arizona and New Mexico and together they employ more than 1,200 people, including more than 775 tribal members. The Gaming Enterprise plans to keep 165 employees on the payroll to ensure essential functions are maintained at the casinos.
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Officials had repeatedly warned that layoffs would become necessary if the casinos weren't allowed to reopen at least with limited capacity.
But officials also warned Thursday that permanent closure of the entire operation is possible by the end of January if casinos are not allowed to reopen or if more funding isn't allocated to keep the operation running. The tribe allocated nearly $25 million in federal virus relief funding to the casino operation in August but that money has run out.
The tribe invested $460 million in the casinos and that would be lost if they closed. Closure would also lead to ongoing yearly losses of about $220 million in revenue and economic activity, Parrish said. He said he believes it's possible to safely reopen with reduced capacity even amid the pandemic.
'The Nation's vision took years to build but the Nation has been successful,' Navajo Gaming Board Chairman Quincy Natay said. 'If it allows its gaming industry to fail, a permanent closure will cause a long-term setback for Navajo economic development, even if it eventually reopens.'
Casino Arizona News Updates
The Navajo Nation spans parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
