Extensive new safety precautions will be in place when Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment, owned and operated by the Tohono O’odham Nation, reopens all four of its properties at 1 p.m. on Friday.
Reopening the facilities will take place in phases, with CDC and other health and safety guidelines being either met or exceeded.
The first phase will include mandatory temperature screening of employees and guests on arrival; face coverings will also be required, though they can be removed for eating, drinking, and smoking. Floor markings will maintain social distancing, while Plexiglas barriers and hand-sanitizer stations have been installed in key areas. High-contact surfaces will be continuously cleaned throughout the day by special clean teams and all properties will shut down for several hours each night to facilitate comprehensive cleaning. HVAC systems will be frequently cleaned and the air flow into the facilities has been expanded.
Every other slot machine will be disabled and chairs removed. Poker and table games will be available at the West Valley and Tucson locations, with reduced seating to enable safe distances. Bingo will be available only at the West Valley facility, with reduced seating.
Select dining venues and bars will be open at the Tucson, Sahuarita, and West Valley locations with social distancing measures in place.
All employees have received additional training in safety and sanitation protocols. In addition to masks, team members will wear gloves when working with high-contact surfaces or materials. The same increased cleaning, hygiene, and social distancing measures in the public areas have also been implemented in the back of house.
Rudy Prieto, CEO of the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise, said “We’ve used the closure time to thoroughly clean and prepare our facilities to welcome back our guests on June 5 to a safe, friendly environment.”
