In March all nine San Diego County Indian casinos went along with Governor Gavin Newsom’s Covid-19 shutdown of most businesses. This time, although the governor’s restrictions are almost as onerous, the tribal casinos are largely sitting out the lockdown and remaining open.
When the tribal casinos began reopening in May, they had adopted many health and safety protocols, including masks for all, social distancing, and a fraction of the normal number of games operating.
Over the ensuing months, as Covid cases increased, they adopted even more health measures, and cancelled almost all public events.
December 7 Governor Newsom issued some of the strictest restrictions since March. They included a stay-at-home order and a curfew.
This has led some casinos to adopt new, stringent restrictions.
Two weeks ago Harrah’s Resort Southern California’s General Manager Robert Livingston issued letters to casino employees for them to carry and possibly present to police who might be enforcing the state’s lockdown orders.
Commercial casino workers are not “essential” under the state definition. However, because Harrah’s is located on a reservation, on sovereign land it is not subject to the Governor’s restrictions. To remove all doubt of this assertion, Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians Tribal Chairman Bo Mazzetti signed a resolution December 2 declaring the casino an essential business “because it supports the economy and infrastructure” of the tribe.
When asked to comment on this, Sheriff’s Department spokesman Lt. Ricardo Lopez said persons are not required to carry papers identifying them as essential workers.
San Diego County health officials, with the cooperation of the tribal casinos, track Covid cases linked to casino visits. The County recently reported that between June 5 and December 12 nearly 600 locals visited a casino within 14 days of testing positive or before they began experience symptoms of the virus.
These numbers compare favorably with persons who contracted the virus who had visited bars, restaurants, haircut salons or churches, which have all had restrictions imposed on them.
Although casinos brag about their extensive health measures to combat the spread of the virus, not all employees are convinced.
A former manager of Harrah’s, Darrell Pilant, sued Caesars Entertainment Inc., which operates Harrah’s in Valley Center for the Rincon tribe. He sued because, he says, he was forced to resign when he refused to reopen the casino in May, fearing that it was dangerous.
When contacted by local news agencies, the nine casinos have declined to comment on this issue. Some, however, have taken news safety measures since Governor Newsom’s orders.
For example, Sycuan Casino Resort in El Cajon has discontinued drinking and smoking at gaming tables and cancelled holiday events and postponed all concerts and events through the first quarter of 2021.
Jamul Casino will be cutting back on entertainment and upping health protocols.
Harrah’s will be operating at normal hours.
Barona Resort & Casino has stopped serving food game side and won’t hold a New Year’s Eve celebration.
Pala Casino Spa and Resort is providing free Covid and antibody testing by appointment to the public. It has not cancelled indoor concerts.
