The Wildhorse Resort & Casino in Pendleton has been cleared to reopen after an initial scare that a staffer had fallen sick of COVID-19 was put to rest.

The casino reopened on Wednesday afternoon and has undergone a careful inspection process from public health officials which cleared the property to continue doing business as usual.

COVID-19 Scare Sends Wildhorse Resort in Protective Overdrive

In a press statement sharing the reopening, Gary George, the casino CEO, said that Wildhorse has exceeded sanitary expectations, and stressed that the well-being of people who work and visit the resort is the utmost priority for the establishment.

The casino had to quickly wind down operations on Monday amid a scare that an employee had presumably tested positive for COVID-19.

The decision came from the Board of Trustees of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, which said that the casino should close the main building to minimize the risk of spreading and further cases.

In the hours following the decision, Wildhorse started sanitizing surfaces across its main venues, including the casino and hotel, the Children’s Entertainment center, arcade, restaurants, administrative offices, and the Cineplex.

To ensure the risk of transmitting any lingering COVID-19 virus is kept to a minimum, the casino deployed the Clorox Total 360 System, which is used to sanitize schools, hospitals, and clinics.

According to Wildhorse, the employee who was thought to have tested positive had limited exposure to other members of the staff, as they worked in a restricted area of the building that had no contact with the kitchen or the main floors.

Very Low Risk of Exposing Employees – No Risk to Guests

Wildhorse has also said that based on the Centers for Disease Control information, the people who may have come in contact with the employee, even in a closed environment, would be at a minimum risk of exposure or catching the virus.

This is not the first instance of a casino shutting down temporarily or partially to ensure that no COVID-19 is spread on its premises. Recently, the Indian Head Casino in Warm Springs followed a similar process after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

Casinos are not risking a repeat of the situation which saw Las Vegas casinos shuttered for 78 days, leading to a gutting economic blow to Nevada and the industry as a whole. Recovery is still undergoing, but no one takes the risk of COVID-19 mildly even two years after COVID-19 was supposedly defeated.

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The Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB) has announced the reopening of its online portal for B2C and B2B license applications on July 15, 2024. This decision follows the closure of the previous application window on April 30, which was extended from March 31 to resolve application issues.

Prioritization and New Applications

While the GCB is accepting new applications, those submitted before the April 30 deadline will be prioritized. The processing of new applications will begin only after existing ones are completed. This strategy is essential to manage the backlog effectively and ensure a smooth transition for operators.

Expiration of Master Licenses and New Regulations

The reopening coincides with the impending expiration of many master licenses in August, which will not be renewed. Additionally, master licenses expiring in January 2025 will automatically lapse when the new regulatory framework, the National Ordinance for Games of Chance (LOK), is enacted. The LOK, which has been in development since September 2023, aims to update and improve the regulatory landscape for gaming in Curaçao.

Until the LOK is officially implemented, the current National Ordinance on Offshore Games of Hazard (NOOGH) will govern the processing of applications. The LOK is expected to be enacted later this year, after which the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) will take over regulatory duties and license issuance.

Updated Guidelines and Application Process

In March, the GCB released a comprehensive nine-page guideline document for license applications. Key updates for the new application window include the removal of the authorization letter requirement for portal users. The GCB retains the authority to conduct due diligence on all portal users to ensure compliance and integrity.

Ministerial Insights and Future Prospects

Curaçao’s Minister of Justice, Javier Silvania, has frequently underscored the potential of the LOK to act as a protective measure against grey market operators and improve the jurisdiction’s reputation, which has been marred by concerns over money laundering. The LOK is intended to provide a stronger regulatory framework that promotes legitimate gaming operations and curtails illegal activities.

In recent statements to the Curaçao parliament, Silvania emphasized the significance of these regulatory changes in restoring confidence in the jurisdiction’s gaming sector.

To accommodate operators whose sub-licenses under master licenses are expiring, the GCB will issue “Certificates of Operation” as a temporary solution for those with applications in progress. This measure ensures continuity of operations while awaiting the completion of new license applications.

The reopening of the GCB portal represents a pivotal move in Curaçao’s efforts to modernize its gaming regulatory framework and establish a well-regulated and transparent environment for operators and players. The GCB’s commitment to processing licenses efficiently and the anticipated implementation of the LOK mark significant steps towards a more robust and reputable gaming industry in Curaçao.

Source:

REOPENING OF THE GCB ONLINE PORTAL FOR APPLICATIONS (pdf), Curacao Gaming Control Board, July 11, 2024.

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