Shutdown of tribal casinos deals blow to Indian Country

Shutdown of tribal casinos deals blow to Indian Country

1/6 | Northern Quest Resort, a resort managed by Charispell Indians in Airway Honey, Washington, near Spokan, on April 29, 2020. The casino has been closed for about two months due to the epidemic of the corona virus, but has recently resumed. During the closure, the tribes lost their main source of income, like hundreds of other Indian casinos closed throughout the United States. (AP Photo/Nick Granios)

2/6 | A sign that indicates that the emerald Queen casino owned by the Puyalap Indian tribe in Tacom, Washington, 2020 was closed. Hundreds of tribal casinos have been independently closed throughout the United States, and in many cases, the main sources of tribes were used in tribal government work and social programs. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

3/6 | In the photo on April 30, 2020, a hotel is "closed" and is being built on the territory of the new emerald Queen casino owned by Puyalap Indians in Washington. Hundreds of tribal casinos have been independently closed throughout the country. In many cases, the main sources of the tribe were used to operate tribal governments and social programs. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

4 out of 6 sheets | On April 30, 2020, a large video display indicating the rank of a new casino slot machine in Emerald Queen, Washington. The casino belongs to the Indian Puyalap tribe and is now closed. Hundreds of tribal casinos across the United States have been independently closed by the trend of Coronavirus. In many cases, the main sources of the tribe were used to operate tribal governments and social programs. (AP = Photo / Ted S. Warren)

5/6 | The word "STOP CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 TOGETHER" listed on April 30, 2020 at Emerald Queen Casino, Tacom, Washington. The casino is from the Indian Puyalap tribe and is now closed. Hundreds of tribal casinos have been independently closed throughout the country, and the main sources of tribes are often used in tribal government work and social programs. (AP = Photo / Ted S. Warren)

6 out of 6 points | A table playing blackjack at the Emerald Queen Casino in Washington on April 30, 2020. The casino belongs to the Puyallup Indian tribe and is currently closed. Hundreds of tribal casinos across the country have voluntarily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. In many cases, tribes' main source of income was used to run tribal governments and social programs. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Tribal casino closures hit Indian lands hard

1/6 | Northern Quest Resort, a resort managed by Charispell Indians in Airway Honey, Washington, near Spokan, on April 29, 2020. The casino has been closed for about two months due to the epidemic of the corona virus, but has recently resumed. During the closure, the tribes lost their main source of income, like hundreds of other Indian casinos closed throughout the United States. (AP Photo/Nick Granios)

Northern Quest Casino, a resort casino managed by the Kalispell Indian Tribe, in Ayloihanes, Washington, near Spokane, on April 29, 2020. The casino recently reopened after being closed for about two months due to the coronavirus pandemic. During the shutdown, the tribe lost its main source of income, as did hundreds of other shuttered Indian casinos across the U. S. (AP Photo/Nick Granios)

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A sign indicates that the Puyallup Indian Tribe-owned New Emerald Queen Casino in Takom, Washington, is closed, in this April 30, 2020 photo. Hundreds of tribal casinos across the U. S. have voluntarily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. In many cases, tribes’ main source of income was used to run tribal governments and social programs. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

A sign indicates that the Puyallup Indian Tribe-owned New Emerald Queen Casino in Takom, Washington, is closed, in this April 30, 2020 photo. Hundreds of tribal casinos across the U. S. have voluntarily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. In many cases, tribes’ main source of income was used to run tribal governments and social programs. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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On April 30, 2020, you can see a closed sign and a hotel under construction on the Emerald Queen Casino owned by the Red Skimp Yarp in Washington. Hundreds of casinos all over the country were closed with free will, and the main sources of tribes were used to operate tribal governments and social programs. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

On April 30, 2020, you can see a closed sign and a hotel under construction on the Emerald Queen Casino owned by the Red Skimp Yarp in Washington. Hundreds of casinos all over the country were closed with free will, and the main sources of tribes were used to operate tribal governments and social programs. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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On April 30, 2020, a slot machine from the Emerald Queen Casino in Washington was introduced on a huge video display. The casino belongs to the tribes of the red skin bullet and is closed in real time. Casino casinos nationwide are the main sources of profits used to execute the tribal government and public programs, which were clear for the colonovirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

On April 30, 2020, a slot machine from the Emerald Queen Casino in Washington was introduced on a huge video display. The casino belongs to the tribes of the red skin bullet and is closed in real time. Casino casinos nationwide are the main sources of profits used to execute the tribal government and public programs, which were clear for the colonovirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

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The signboard of "STOP CORONAVIRUS COVID-19" listed on April 30, 2020 at Emerald Queen Casino, Washington. The casino belongs to the tribes of the red skin bullet and is closed in real time. Hundreds of casinos nationwide closed with their own free will, with the trend of Coronavirus, and often took the main source of income used in tribal governments and public programs. (AP = Photo / Ted S. Warren)

The signboard of "STOP CORONAVIRUS COVID-19" listed on April 30, 2020 at Emerald Queen Casino, Washington. The casino belongs to the tribes of the red skin bullet and is closed in real time. Hundreds of casinos nationwide closed with their own free will, with the trend of Coronavirus, and often took the main source of income used in tribal governments and public programs. (AP = Photo / Ted S. Warren)

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A giant video display shows dishes for playing blackjack at the brand new Emerald Queen Casino in Washington state on April 30, 2020. The casino belongs to the Red Skinned Bullet Tribe and has been closed in real time. Often, tribes' main source of revenue goes to running tribal governments and public programs. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

A giant video display shows dishes for playing blackjack at the brand new Emerald Queen Casino in Washington state on April 30, 2020. The casino belongs to the Red Skinned Bullet Tribe and has been closed in real time. Often, tribes' main source of revenue goes to running tribal governments and public programs. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Copy link Nicolai K. Geranios Published [hour]: [minute] [pm] [time zone], [month] [day], [year] Copy link

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - When the Kalispell tribe closed its casinos because of the spread of coronavirus in Washington state, it essentially shut down its own economy.

This difficult choice has more than been repeated across the United States. The Native American Yankee tribe's 500 or so casinos have closed during the pandemic, of their own free will.

The U. S. government earmarked $8 billion in coronavirus relief in March, when most of the casinos were closed, but it has not rushed to distribute the money, making the casinos even more necessary.

"We can barely fund a casino, we can't fund health care, we can't fund education, we can't fund law enforcement, we can't fund fire protection," Phil Haugen, chief operating officer for the Kalispell tribe's finance department, said.

Northern Quest casinos were locked down for almost two months in the Spokane area, essentially a multi-million dollar tribe. But then casinos across the country went under, and they opened on Tuesday with restrictions on the number of buyers, cleaning, a minimum number of slot machines and chairs at tables, and social distancing.

Other casinos owned by native Yankees are already open or set to open within the next few weeks, but are still covered. This is also leading to layoffs and state cuts for more than a million tribe workers (almost all of whom work in casinos).

According to John Delmont, president of the UAW2121 union, which represents 1, 200 card dealers at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, employees enjoy unemployment benefits and health insurance, which nearly all casinos are maintaining.

We want to get back to work,' casino worker Delmont said.

On Sunday, Foxwoods released a statement saying it has been kicking out most of its employees without benefits since May 31.

The Mashantacut Paquot tribe claims that it is actually losing millions of dollars a week, but the defense of workers is the main meaning. According to Delmona, the tribe will listen to officials and decide when to restore work.

"Everyone is taking it seriously, which is good. It's scary to open and close, so anything else should be safe."

It remains to be seen when Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos in Connecticut will resume operations. On May 20, staff are scheduled to start weakening coronavirus-related restrictions.

According to a text from Casino President Jeff Hamilton, more than 5. 000 employees of the casino ensemble, Mohegan tribal properties - nearly the entire state - were sent to decay, but retained their own honey benefits.

He did not mention the specific number of cash losses, "but we are the basis of inaccessibility of income."

"We are not considering how to make up for the lost advantage," Hamilton said. Hamilton said. "If you have an 'openly' sign, it doesn't mean that virtually everything will return to their circle," he said.

In Oklahoma, almost all tribal administrations that closed half of their casinos continued to pay their employees. Cherokee supporters even said that paying wages and covering the costs of closing casinos and other businesses cost the tribes $30 million to $40 million a month.

In New Mexico, casinos, property of the Native Americans, were hidden, inspiring 14 tribes with daily incomes of as much as $820 million.

"I literally ask the fiscal power of the tribes involved in the gambling industry, a member of the Democratic Publo tribe, who closed the casino on the outskirts of Alba Khaki. I am. "

While companies and billionaire owns casinos in these areas such as Las Vegas, the tribes are sovereign state that manages casinos based on the federal law that regulates Red Skins gambling established in 1988. The law aimed to support the tribes of poverty to build a sustainable economy.

The accurate data on the casino income and the program that it supports is difficult to find because the tribe generally does not provide this information. For example, two months have passed since gambling facilities in the tribe were closed, but the results have just begun to appear.

However, the Group of Harvard University has recently published a preliminary result of research on pandemic impact in 574 tribes approved by the federal government. According to the report, the tribes were initially closed all their own casinos in 29 states, and almost all of the facilities other than gambling were closed.

"After these establishments were closed, the tribes faced the global layoffs, were struggling to earn money, and their debts were piled up," he said.

In Washington, the pure wrap red tribes told the tribes that there were only funds required for welfare benefits until the end of June. The tribes based in tacoma run two large casinos, and 85 % of employees are fired or taken off.

On the other side of the state, a small Charispell tribe has been struggling for decades in a isolated small hold near the state border with Aidaho, but built a casino, "At least a economy has been made. Ta, "said Hugen.

According to Nick Pierre, the general manager of the casino, the business has found a health benefit to greatly extend the average life expectancy of the tribal. Casino employs tribes and other people, providing funds to language programs and facilities for the elderly.

"Northern quests have not been affected by casino profits since the Northern Quest opened in 2000," said Cart Holmes, a member of the Council of Council.

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Three AP communication reporters, Sean Murphy of Oklahoma City, Susan Hay in Heartford, Connecticut, and Susan Montoya Brian of Alba Carki, announced comments.