Ohkay Casino Reopening
Isleta Casino & Resort in Albuquerque, Ohkay Hotel Casino in Ohkay Owingeh and Taos Mountain Casino in Taos all have reopened with coronavirus-related precautions. Tribal casinos are controlled by sovereign nations, so the state cannot prohibit them from reopening. Isleta Casino & Resort’s slot operation director Zeke Perez declined to speak about the reopening. Ohkay Hotel Casino’s general manager Jake Pierce and Taos Mountain Casino general manager.
Gamblers across the state will have a chance to try their luck today as some of the tribal casinos reopen to the public for the first time since March.
In Northern New Mexico, Ohkay Hotel Casino’s gaming floor will open its doors at 7 a.m. today. Further to the south, Isleta’s Casino is opening at 10 a.m. There is no official word when other area casinos will open and although announcements seem to be appearing on social media.
Ohkay closed its doors March 18, along with the Santa Claran Hotel & Casino at the request of state health officials. All of the state’s tribal casinos closed their doors in the interests of public health. The move cost the businesses millions of dollars in lost revenue.
According to a June 11 letter from the Ohkay Owingeh Tribal Administration, the decision to reopen the gaming floor was made by the Tribal Council on June 10.
Ohkay Casino Reopening Center
The gaming floor will open at 40% of capacity, the letter states, and all staff members will be required to wear masks. Masks will be strongly urged and provided for casino guests.
Ohkay Owingeh recently announced that their annual feast day celebrations would be cancelled.
Along with the announcement concerning the reopening of the casino Tribal Administration explained that visitors were simply easier to control at the casino than at feast day.
Ohkay Casino Reopening
“Our feast day activities are a lot more difficult to control visitors, at the casino we have security personnel, surveillance cameras and in general the ability to control the number of guests who enter and the ability to monitor safe distancing practices,” the letter states.