San Diego County has more Indian casinos than any other county in the state, and therefore the nation. The County knows how many Covid cases can be linked to casinos, more than 300, but it’s not saying which casinos—and neither are the tribes where they are based.
The County says those 300 visited a casino shortly—within 14 days— before testing positive. Three of those cases later died. But the County won’t confirm whether any of the positive cases actually occurred on sovereign tribal land. The tribes, being sovereign, are not required to release such information.
The County doesn’t only refuse to disclose casinos connected with infections, it refuses to do so far any business.
Controversially, San Diego’s tribal casinos reopened before Governor Gavin Newsom wanted them to, and while many businesses continued to struggle with lockdowns.
A former general manager of Harrah’s Resort Southern California quit his job rather than reopen the casino in May because of the potential risk and is now suing Harrah’s for wrongful termination. The chairman of the Rincon tribe, which owns the casino in Valley Center, has been quoted saying there have been no cases of Covid on the reservation, which would include the casino. That has been disputed by some casino employees, who spoke anonymously.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began an investigation in August following one such complaint.
Since there are nine tribal casinos in the county, this situation could be playing out over and over, and the public wouldn’t know it. Except for some local news organizations that are continuing to put the existing sanitation protocols under the magnifying glass.
One of these is the online news source, which noted that at each casino, employees check the temperature of patrons ending using thermal scanners and handheld devices, among others.
Many casinos turn off every other slot machine to enforce social distancing and some don’t operate table games. Those that do separate patrons with clear plastic barriers while dealers wear protective gear.
Most dining establishments have reopened and guests can dispense with masks while eating and drinking.
Some casinos have discontinued busing customers from out of the county, while others, such as Pala Casino Spa Resort, continues to do so, but at reduced numbers.
The investigative reporters interviewed employees at three casinos who said the sanitation protocols aren’t rigidly enforced. Crowds often form around table games, despite strictures against them.
An employee at Sycuan Casino Resort said she prays every day before each shift because she’s scared but also scared to quit her job.
Sycuan safety manager Eddie Ilko, commented, “We’re safer because a lot of the history Indian Country has had, so we’ve had to be above and beyond whatever the local and state regulations are.”
Several news sources, including the Voice of San Diego, KPBS and the San Diego Union-Tribune have sued to get information about specific businesses connected to Covid cases.
