COARSEGOLD — The Chukchansi Economic Development Authority (CEDA) and the management team at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino announced Friday the property will implement its first phase of reopening on June 1.
CEDA temporarily closed the property on March 20 due to public and tribal health precautions surrounding COVID-19. Since then, according to tribal officials, CEDA has continued to monitor the guidelines and recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California Department of Public Health and the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC).
“Based on these guidelines, Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino will reopen in a limited capacity with added sanitation procedures, social distance practices and increased safety protocols to protect team members and guests,” said a press release issued by the tribe on Friday. “As part of these protective measures, team members and guests will be required to wear a mask and undergo a temperature screening before entering the casino property.”
The casino’s gaming floor will be open with fewer slot machines, going from 1,800 to 1,200 to increase distance between players.
All table games will have a maximum seating of three per table. Touchless transactions will continue throughout the property and all guests must be 21 and over to enter the resort and casino.
The resort’s hotel rooms will not be available initially as the property begins a phased reopening.
During this initial phase, according to the press release, “operational hours of venues will vary to ensure adequate time to sanitize every room, machine, door handle, counter, lobby and open space with hospital-grade sanitation products. The entire casino will be sprayed daily with an EPA registered broad-spectrum disinfectant that kills 99.9 percent of bacteria, including COVID-19.”
Select restaurants will reopen with limited menus and no buffet options. Restaurants will offer reduced seating, disposable menus and demonstrate increased spacing between tables and chairs. Hotel rooms aren’t available to the public for booking and all promotional events, slot tournaments and concerts have been postponed.
The Firehouse Lounge will remain closed, as will Serenity Springs Spa and valet parking has been temporarily suspended.
Hand sanitizer stations have been installed throughout the property and the casino’s hospitality team will be wiping down high-contact surfaces, door handles and slot machines with disinfectants multiple times a day. Signage will be prominently displayed throughout the facility to assist and remind guests of social distance and sanitation practices.
The property will welcome back its team members who will return to work after having undergone additional training such as: increased cleaning and sanitation instructions, health observance guidelines, reporting protocols, illness prevention, the importance of proper and frequent hand-washing, and staying home if they are not feeling well.
“We’ve worked diligently to develop a re-opening plan that focuses on operating in a manner that protects our team and our guests,” said Claudia Gonzales, chairwoman of the Tribal Council for the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians. “We’re confident the practices we’ve adopted will create the safety, sanitation and social distance needed to open our doors in a responsible manner for our guests to return, and our team members to confidently return to work.”
For updates and more information, please visit ChukchansiGold.com.
