{"id":130616,"date":"2020-03-19T15:55:17","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T22:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=130616"},"modified":"2020-03-19T16:22:38","modified_gmt":"2020-03-19T23:22:38","slug":"seminole-hard-rock-casinos-open-despite-mounting-coronavirus-cases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/seminole-hard-rock-casinos-open-despite-mounting-coronavirus-cases\/","title":{"rendered":"Anger Builds as Seminole Hard Rock Casinos Remain Open Despite Mounting Coronavirus Cases in Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"

The coronavirus has forced the closure of 96 percent of commercial casino operations in America, according to the American Gaming Association. Many tribal operators<\/a> are also heeding the advice from state and federal governments to follow suit, despite the economic devastation it might wreak on their communities.<\/p>\n

\"Seminole
Republican State Rep. Jackie Toledo is demanding the closure of Seminole Hard Rock casinos, although the state has no legal powers to force them to close. (Image: Florida House)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But there is growing anger in Florida that for one of the wealthiest and most powerful tribal operators, it\u2019s business as usual — almost.<\/p>\n

As of Thursday, all six of the Seminole Tribe of Florida\u2019s Hard Rock Casinos remained open, despite nearly 400 confirmed cases of coronavirus and six deaths recorded in a state with an aging population.<\/p>\n

This is also despite the Seminole HQ closing for a clean up a week ago after an employee tested positive for the virus.<\/p>\n

The Seminoles say they have streamlined their operations, calling off scheduled concerts and large parties, shutting their poker rooms, and unplugging over half the slot machines to promote distancing between their customers. Seats at table games have also been removed, while restaurants have closed every other table.<\/p>\n

The tribe is also making hand sanitizers available in all common areas, while disinfectant wipes are available on request, and common surfaces are being disinfected more frequently.<\/p>\n

Invisible Enemy <\/strong><\/h2>\n

But on Wednesday, State Rep. Jackie Toledo (R-Tampa) said it\u2019s not enough \u2013 an opinion she has been retweeting persistently through Thursday.<\/p>\n

\u201cSchools are closed, bars are closed, but the casinos remain open,\u201d she complained to FOX 13. \u201cIn a casino, patrons have to touch screens, they touch money, they touch chips, and they touch tables. They are encouraging the spread of this virus.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is no reason in this war against the invisible enemy that the Seminole Hard Rock can\u2019t keep its employees and patrons safe,\u201d she added.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Toledo wants Governor Ron DeSantis to intervene, although there is little, legally, the governor can do.<\/p>\n

The Seminole tribe is a sovereign nation. Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA), sovereign tribes are permitted to offer gaming provided they comply with the rules of IGRA and other federal laws, but not necessarily the laws of the state.<\/p>\n

Can the Feds Close Tribal Casinos? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

But does the federal government have the power to order a tribal casino to close? In the case of the Seminoles, it\u2019s unlikely to come to that — but the answer is, possibly.<\/em><\/p>\n

The tribes are subject to federal law, which means that Congress would first have to pass a statute to allow federal authorities to shutter tribal casinos in times of pandemic, for example. But this would be a highly politically sensitive issue.<\/p>\n

Casino.org<\/em> readers had plenty to say when we touched on the Seminole situation earlier in the week.<\/a><\/p>\n

Reader Rebecca Doughty said, \u201cTribal or not, close the casinos. They are putting people\u2019s lives in jeopardy \u2026 Greed should not be a factor. People\u2019s health is.\u201d<\/p>\n

But not everyone was against the tribe\u2019s position. \u201cJanie\u201d said, \u201cI am proud of the Seminole people for choosing not to let the government control every issue of her (sic) life. If you don\u2019t want to go, then stay home. But if you do want to go, at least you have that choice. It\u2019s time the Indians stood their ground.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The coronavirus has forced the closure of 96 percent of commercial casino operations in America, according to the American Gaming Association. Many tribal operators are also heeding the advice from state and federal governments to follow suit, despite the economic devastation it might wreak on their communities. But there is growing anger in Florida that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":130618,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18456],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSeminole Hard Rock Casinos Open Despite Mounting Coronavirus Cases<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Seminole Tribe of Florida\u2019s Hard Rock casinos remain open, despite coronavirus cases. State Rep. 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