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A crowded indoor poker room at Graton Resort and Casino in Rohnert Park in late December 2020. Casinos on tribal lands in California are not required to adhere to statewide COVID-19 orders.
(Courtesy of Graton Casino and Resort employee)
As California continues to grapple with a worsening winter surge of COVID-19 cases, some businesses remain able to operate outside the purview of state shutdown orders aimed to protect public health during the pandemic. Tribal resorts and casinos in California operate under federal law on federally protected sovereign land known as rancherias – so they re not required to comply with orders issued by Gov. Newsom or county officials.
No reason was given for the cancellation.
The tribe is a sovereign nation and not subject to county or state public health orders, Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase said during the Wednesday news conference.
Mase added the casino has been open for several months during the pandemic, and the operator has taken steps to reduce the risk of casino guests contracting the coronavirus. She also said bars at the casino are closed, and walk-up alcohol service ends at 9 p.m.
On Thursday, just before 1 p.m., Graton s website said the casino would become a private venue and close to the public from 5 p.m. Dec. 31 until 4 a.m. Jan. 1. That message was no longer up later in the afternoon.
A Bay Area casino planned a private 4,000-person party. Then word got out
ROHNERT PARK, California (KSBW) A social media announcement turned into a PR nightmare for one Bay Area casino that has now decided to cancel a huge New Year’s Eve party after an outpouring of concern from health officials and locals.
Graton Resort and Casino in Rohnert Park posted last week on its various social media accounts that the casino would be closing early on New Year’s Eve to accommodate a private party. That party was set to have 4,000 attendees at a time when the coronavirus has never been more widespread in California. Although the casino didn’t reveal the would-be attendees, the Press-Democrat reported it was “scheduled for casino VIPs, as well as platinum-tier rewards club members, which requires gambling about $300,000 within a six-month period.”
A Bay Area casino planned a private 4,000-person party. Then word got out.
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A file photo of the Graton Resort and Casino in Rohnert Park, Calif.Eric Risberg/Associated Press
A social media announcement turned into a PR nightmare for one Bay Area casino that has now decided to cancel a huge New Year s Eve party after an outpouring of concern from health officials and locals.
Graton Resort and Casino in Rohnert Park posted last week on its various social media accounts that the casino would be closing early on New Year s Eve to accommodate a private party. That party was set to have 4,000 attendees at a time when the coronavirus has never been more widespread in California. Although the casino didn t reveal the would-be attendees, the Press-Democrat reported it was scheduled for casino VIPs, as well as platinum-tier rewards club members, which requires gambling about $300,000 within a six-month period.