The tribal casino owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians says it’s closing on the final day of 2020 in order to limit capacity on the gaming floor. The resort says only Pechanga Club members will be provided access from 12 noon on December 31. The property will reopen to all guests at 6 am on January 1, 2021.<\/p>\n
\nTo maintain our strict, comprehensive health and safety protocols, the annual New Year’s Eve events, entertainment, and gala were canceled in October. We hope next year will be different and we can all celebrate together again,” a statement on the casino website notifies.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Dining reservations that were made prior to today’s announcement will be honored, regardless of whether the patron is a Pechanga Club member.<\/p>\n
With more than 4,500 slot machines and 150 table games, plus a poker room, off-track pari-mutuel betting parlor, and 700-seat bingo facility, the Pechanga Casino bills itself as the largest gaming venue on the West Coast.<\/p>\n
Tribes Voluntarily Limit Capacity<\/b><\/h2>\n
No state has more tribal casinos than California. The Native American gaming floors in the Golden State won more than $9.5 billion in the 2019 fiscal year, an all-time best.<\/p>\n
Gaming is the economic lifeline for most tribes in California, which is why, despite the state continuing to see COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations climb, nearly all of the tribal casinos remain open in some capacity.<\/p>\n