Navajo casinos to remain closed until at least August 31

Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise officials say all four of the tribe’s casinos in Arizona and New Mexico will stay closed at least through this month. 

Nearly 90% of the tribe’s gaming employees have gone without paychecks since August 4 as funds ran low. Officials say the decision to remain closed impacts about 900 Navajo families.

“We do not want to lose our team members – it goes against everything we stand for," said interim Gaming CEO Brian Parrish in a press release Monday. "Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of the Navajo people through a successful gaming economy. We have been challenged with this pandemic, but remain hopeful that we will reopen soon and re-stabilize our Navajo Gaming family.” 

Quincy Natay, Navajo Nation Gaming Chairman said: “As the first tribal casino to close on March 17th, and possibly the last to reopen, Navajo Nation Gaming will offer 'best-in-class' safety measures and a “trusted-space” environment for our patrons and team members when it is safe to reopen.” 

The tribe’s casinos — Fire Rock Navajo Casino, Flowing Water Navajo Casino, Northern Edge Navajo Casino and Twin Arrows Casino Resort — closed on March 17 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Navajo leaders have released a plan to gradually reopen the reservation as cases have flattened. Gaming officials say when casinos do begin to operate again they’ll implement strict safety measures.