In Oregon, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation closed the Wildhorse Resort & Casino near Pendleton for the first time since it opened more than 25 years ago. By the middle of March, all nine of the state’s Indian casinos followed suit.
The pandemic is on track to be the greatest disaster ever to hit Indian gaming in the Pacific Northwest. The Oregon Tribal Gaming Alliance, which includes seven tribes, says Indian gaming generated $1.49 billion dollars in economic output in 2017, while supporting 11,262 jobs and $131.5 million in casino revenues. It estimates the tribes would have made about $620 million this year if not for the pandemic.
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, who own the state’s largest casino, Spirit Mountain Casino, paid employees until the end of April, including compensation for tips.
At the Chinook Winds, the Siletz Tribe kept all employees on the payroll for two weeks and paid health benefits through the end of this month, but laid off 720 workers. The tribe is considering several scenarios for reopening, including a “soft” with a set number of guests.
The Wildhorse paid salaries and benefits until the end of March, furloughed employees through April 12, then put them all on unpaid leave until the end of this month.
Indian Head Casino operated by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs plans to pay salaries and benefits until the end of the month.
In neighboring Washington, the Cowlitz Tribe’s ilani casino has said it will follow the guidelines of Governor Jay Inslee and stay shut until May 4.
William Iyall, chairman of the Cowlitz tribe, which operates the ilani, called it a “bittersweet moment” that the tribe had donated $775,000 to regional nonprofits, which its members will now benefit from in the form of Covid-19 relief.
