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| Above, Fire Rock Navajo Casino has been closed since March. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Before this latest spike in coronavirus infections, Indian casinos in the Albuquerque, New Mexico vicinity were allowed to open as long as they followed CDC guidelines. But casinos elsewhere have been closed since March.
Casinos along Interstate 40 between Gallup and Albuquerque have been ghost towns. Sky City Casino, Dancing Eagle Casino and Fire Rock Navajo Casino have been shut down
Now, casino under the wing of the Navajo Nation have to lay off workers.
According to KRQE News 13:
NAVAJO NATION (AP) – Casinos run by the Navajo Nation plan to temporarily lay off more than 1,100 workers on New Year’s Day because of prolonged closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The tribe’s Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise announced the decision Thursday night, saying it was left with no choice but to move ahead with the layoffs because of lack of revenue caused by the closures.
“Due to the extended closure, since March 17, 2020, our business operations have been severely impacted and as a result, we must make very difficult financial and personnel decisions,” Brian Parrish, the tribal casino operation’s Interim CEO, said in a statement.
But officials also warned Thursday that permanent closure of the entire operation is possible by the end of January if casinos are not allowed to reopen or if more funding isn’t allocated to keep the operation running. The tribe allocated nearly $25 million in federal virus relief funding to the casino operation in August but that money has run out.
I rarely gamble, but I do go to Indian casinos for meals on occasion. It would be tragic if they are forced to close permanently due to the stubborn governor of New Mexico.
To read more, go here.
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