As cases continue to climb, New Mexico has become the latest state to issue restrictions based on rising COVID-19 cases across the country. However, New Mexico’s order appears to be the furthest reaching since states began a shutdown in March.
Beginning Monday, all non-essential businesses must remain closed for two weeks and residents are asked to stay home.
The state has 26 tribal casinos, according to 500nations. As sovereign nations, the tribes that run New Mexico’s gaming industry do not have to comply with the order. Tribes’ responses vary from continuing business with precautions in place, closing their casinos, or never reopened them in the first place. According to a quick survey of casinos’ social media pages and websites by CDC Gaming on Monday afternoon, the majority appear to be operating with health and safety precautions in place.
However, working in cooperation with the state of New Mexico and area health officials, Pueblo of Pojoaque closed the doors of Buffalo Thunder Casino and Cities of Gold Casino, both in Santa Fe, for a minimum of two weeks, beginning last Friday.
The Navajo Nation’s four casinos have remained closed since their original closure in March. Last Friday, the Navajo Nation Department of Health reissued its stay at home order and the Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez vetoed a tribal council resolution that would allow the tribe to reopen its four casinos.
“Our concern is that if we’re unable to reopen, we’re going to be forced into a situation where we would no longer have the cash reserves to be able to open again at some point in the near future,” Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise’s Interim Chief Executive Brian Parrish, told lawmakers on November 3rd when Navajo Nation lawmakers approved the reopening.
President Jonathan Nez says that instead of reopening, the government will explore relief options to support Navajo businesses.
“We cannot put a price tag on the health, safety, and lives of our Navajo people. Revenues do not outweigh the precious lives of our elders, children, and gaming employees,” Nez told NPR.
