Tribes outside California have reopened casinos with limited capacity and other safety precautions. The country’s 574 federally recognized tribes also are sovereign entities and can decide on how to operate their businesses without approval from states.
Tribal casinos operate under federal law on federally protected land, known as rancherias in California, so they’re not required to fall in line with Newsom’s orders. Stay-at-home orders that began in early December prohibit indoor religious services and on-site dining, close gyms and cardrooms, restrict hotel reservations and limit capacity to 20% at retail stores. Gavin Newsom has ordered amid a crushing surge in coronavirus cases that has overwhelmed hospitals statewide.Ĭalifornia’s self-governed tribal casinos have largely left safety rules unchanged since reopening in the spring as the government has stiffened restrictions on other businesses in most of the state. Splashy messages on websites and freeway signs for California’s tribal casinos are a jarring contrast with the sober restraint that Gov. Morongo Casino Resort & Spa declares, “Good Times are back!” Barona Resort Casino says, “We’re open 24/7.” SAN DIEGO - “We’re open!” says Thunder Valley Resort Casino.
