Oklahoma Casinos Close Through March 31

Sat, Mar 21, 2020

Tribal officials in Oklahoma changed their stance on closing casinos in response to the coronavirus in a 24-hour period. As late as March 16, tribal leaders said their casinos would remain open, but later that day, all tribes announced their casinos would close through March 31, including the state’s largest casino, Winstar (l.).

Oklahoma Casinos Close Through March 31

As late as Monday, March 16, the National Indian Gaming Commission said tribal casinos in Oklahoma would remain open since no guests or team members at any facility had displayed symptoms of the coronavirus.

But by the next day, health officials said evidence of community spread had surfaced, causing numerous tribal gaming operations to announce they were closing—including the Chickasaw Nation’s WinStar World Casino and Resort, the largest casino in the U.S., which attracts visitors from the Dallas area. Officials said employees would be compensated and select food and spa services will remain open.

Owners of another venue that draws from the Dallas area, the Choctaw Nation said it will close its Durant casino and resort, plus travel plaza gaming locations and concert venues for an unspecified period.

At 11:59 p.m., March 16, the Cherokee Nation suspended all operations at Cherokee Nation Entertainment casinos and hotels, including Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, through March 31. Officials said employees will be paid during the shutdown.

Comanche Nation officials issued a State of Emergency declaration, stating its Lawton, Devol, Walters and Richards Spur gaming operations would close until at least April 1. Tribal chairman William Nelson Sr. stated some staff would be assigned to cleaning and others with children could elect to stay home with pay. “May God help us through this time,” Nelson said.

The Kiowa, Comanche and Fort Sill Apache tribes on March 17 said that all tribal governments and businesses, including casinos, would remain open. But by that afternoon, those tribal casinos also temporarily closed.

Remington Park Racing & Casino, yet another casualty of the Covid-19 viral pandemic, is partially open, according to KFOR-TV. Though casino operations have shut down, horse races continue, albeit without on-site spectators.

Remington Park will continue simulcasting races, both to off-track betting sites and online sites.

“We will reopen based on available information, consultation with Oklahoma City leadership, and the direction of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission,” according to a news release issued by the property.