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SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- The Viejas Casino & Resort reopened its doors Monday morning to the public despite concerns from San Diego County and state health officials.
The casino in Alpine, as well as others in the region, has been closed since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Viejas, Sycuan, Jamul, and Valley View all announced last week they would reopen starting the week of May 18 in light of California’s easing of some restrictions.
Viejas opened at 8 a.m. Monday, with Sycuan Casino Resort and Jamul Casino reopening on Thursday, and Valley View Casino & Hotel reopening on Friday.
Viejas Casino and Resort is a hotel casino and outlet center owned by the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, located in Alpine, California.The casino has over 2,000 slot machines, up to 86 table games, three restaurants, a deli, bingo, an off-track betting facility, lounge, concert venues and multiple indoor and outdoor meeting spaces.
COVID update: Viejas Casino & Resort has updated their hours and services. 1222 reviews of Viejas Casino & Resort 'Nice casino about 25-30 minutes outside of San Diego, a bit on the small side compared to the other Indian gaming casinos in the San Diego area but their 'seafood' buffet is pretty good for about $12 bucks. They also have an outlet mall accross the street if you get bored of. Buffets in Alpine, CA.
Officials with Viejas said there will be enhanced public health and safety measures in place for their visitors.
Throughout the property, signs reminding guests of safety protocols, social distancing guidelines and safety practices will be posted. All guests and employees will be subject to a non-contact temperature scan before entering casino.
Every other machine on the casino floor will be disabled to help maintain social distancing, and those under the age of 21 will not be allowed to enter, officials said.
Everyone in the casino, employees and guests, will be required to wear masks, officials said. Additional hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed throughout the resort, they said.
Between 3 a.m.-7 a.m. every day, the casino will shut down for a deep cleaning of the property – a procedure that will include the use of an ultraviolet light.
After last week’s reopening announcement, county health officials urged casino officials to reconsider and vowed to work with the CDC to prevent them from opening. However, the county later walked back those comments.
Last Friday, Gov. Newsom sent a letter to county tribal leaders and asked them to wait to reopen. In his letter, Newsome said he would not ask the tribes to get permission from the state before reopening, but he hoped they would, in the spirit of sovereign-to-sovereign engagement, hold off on reopening until Phase 3 of the California’s plan.
Legal experts told 10News state and local governments do not have jurisdiction over tribal lands.
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Is Viejas Casino Open Today
Monday, May 18, 2020
Elliot Spagat / Associated Press
Photo by Mike Damron
Above: Crowds line up at Viejas Casino & Resort on the casino's first day of reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic, May 18, 2020.
One of California's largest tribal casinos reopened Monday to a large crowd as customers had their temperatures taken at the door and were ordered to wear facial coverings.
The Viejas Casino & Resort was the first of three popular casinos in the San Diego area to open this week,. At least one public health official acknowledged tribes are sovereign authorities and not subject to state and local restrictions on operating amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Every other slot machine was turned off but the strong turnout meant many customers were still playing less than six feet (1.8 meters) apart. Card dealers worked with up to three players at a table and there were no barriers separating them — also far less than six feet apart.
Customers were required to have their foreheads scanned for temperatures. Electronic signs across the casino floor told them — “Let's Play Again!” — while also instructing them to stay six feet apart, wash hands for 20 seconds, avoid touching eyes, noses and mouths and come back another day if they were feeling sick.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
Within an hour of opening at 8 a.m., the first three floors of four-story parking garage were full at the casino, which has 2,500 slot machines in Alpine, east of San Diego.
Ronda McLauchlan, 49, of Alpine lined up at 7:30 a.m. before going to work as a painting contractor because “it's all about freedom.” She is highly critical of Gov. Gavin Newsom's orders to keep businesses closed.
“They're opening up because they don't have to listen to him,” she said.
Dedra Bloxton, 51, took the day off from working at a port in Long Beach to drive two hours from Los Angeles with a friend and play the slot machines. “There's nothing to do at home,” she said. “It feels good just to take a drive. It feels good just to be outside.”
Dr. Wilma Wooten, San Diego County’s top public health officer, last week backed off from her earlier criticism of reopening plans.
Wooten, who met with tribal leaders to discuss their plans, noted that casinos were in the third stage of California’s reopening plans and the state is only in the second stage, but she refused to say if the casinos were making a mistake.
“Tribal nations are sovereign entities,” she told reporters.
The San Diego Union-Tribune — in an editorial titled, “San Diego casinos are about to gamble with patrons’ lives” — said opening is a “high-risk public health experiment'
San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher refused to question the tribes last week.
“This is a decision that is for them to make, and there is a very long and very dark history of the country of white people, in particular, telling our Native Americans what they should and shouldn’t do,” he said. “I’m not going to be a part of continuing that into the future. I respect their sovereignty.”
Lucy Gavin, who works with the developmentally disabled and is collecting unemployment benefits because her client doesn't want her too close, came to play slots.
“Everything is getting ready to open,” she said. “I think it's a bit too soon ... We were getting tired of sitting around.”
The Sycuan Casino Resort in El Cajon opens Wednesday and the Valley View Casino & Hotel in Valley Center resumes operations Friday. Both are in San Diego County.
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