“I’m relieved that the SBA is correcting its harmful initial guidance, which unfairly excluded a significant number of tribally-owned businesses from the Paycheck Protection Program. Unfortunately, the delay in reversing SBA’s erroneous guidance has already put tribal businesses at a disadvantage at a time of immense need.”
—Tom Udall, New Mexico senator, concerned that tribal casinos won’t receive enough funding to outlast Covid-19
“Indian Country’s been through a lot in our history, and we have persevered. We’re going to get through this. But we need this administration and the United States Congress to understand and appreciate what we are and to be able to assist us going forward.”
—Ernie Stevens Jr., chairman, National Indian Gaming Association, on the government’s decision to open the Paycheck Protection Program to tribal casinos
“We feel pretty confident we’ll be back to a much better place this summer and then a much better place in the fall, and we have seen evidence of pent-up demand like crazy from our customers who are asking when and we talk to them pretty regularly.”
—Rob Goldstein, president and COO, Las Vegas Sands Corp., on the expected ramp-up of operations in Macau
“What I’m most happy about is putting employees back to work. That’s the greatest thing in the world. People were really starting to lose their mind, and of course the financial burden on everybody. Just to be able to start hiring people back, even at 25 percent, it’s just really exciting.”
—Tilman Fertitta, owner of the Landry’s restaurants, Golden Nugget casinos and the Houston Rockets, endorsing a plan by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to reopen the state on a gradual basis
“Everything was rolling. We were coming into March Madness, which makes a third of the money for the year. Everybody is betting. It’s the Super Bowl for the whole month. Then basketball was done, and every sport after that followed suit. It was like dominoes.”
—Bruno, sportsbook employee, on the shutdown that left him out of a job. Bruno told the New York Post, “Everybody’s sportsbook is f—-d”
“After seeing how these companies treat workers, it’s encouraging me to get out of the hospitality industry and Las Vegas in general. We’ve been applying for anything.”
—Joseph Guerrero, furloughed MGM Resorts worker, who is looking to exit the industry and possibly leave Las Vegas
“Gaming is my career. I hope I go back, I truly do, but it is what it is. I’m not going to hold my breath.”
—Matthew Miller, furloughed Aria dealer, who’s looking for temporary work as a delivery driver until the casino reopens
“As travel starts to return, many travelers will be anxious and uncertain about leaving home. When people feel safe, they’ll start traveling again.”
—Jonathan Day, associate professor of hospitality and tourism management, Purdue University
“Some employees will need to find a way to shift to either a different occupation in hospitality or a different industry altogether.”
—Jeremy Aguero, economist, Las Vegas-based Applied Analysis, who believes some gaming and hospitality jobs may be gone for good
“Our decision to invest in mass testing will give us, our employees and their loved ones the reassurance that they will have a safe working environment.”
—Enrique Razon Jr., chairman and CEO, Bloomberry Resorts, who is promoting mass Covid-19 testing for employees at Solaire Resort & Casino in Manila
