Navajo Nation casinos lay off over 1,100 workers

The casino company has left just 165 employees on its payroll to ensure the basic functioning of the properties.

US.- The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise has temporarily laid off over 1,100 workers across its gaming establishments in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.

The lay offs are a result of the revenue decrease caused by property closures throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Casinos were closed for nine and a half months, only reopening last month but at 50 per cent capacity.

The casino company has left just 165 employees on its payroll to ensure the basic functioning of the properties, but these employees will face a 20 per cent pay cut.

In July, the company told employees it could stop delivering paychecks due to its financial situation.

The tribe operates four casinos; Twin Arrows Casino Hotel, Fire Rock Casino, Northern Edge Casino and Flowing Water Casino. Collectively they employ more than 1,200 people.

Interim director for Navajo Gaming, Brian Parrish, said in a statement: “Due to the extended closure, since March 17, 2020, our business operations have been severely impacted and as a result, we must make very difficult financial and personnel decisions.

“If we were able to get additional CARES funding that would be ideal. Or some other grant from the Nation. A loan is going to be a challenge because the enterprise will be open to a limited capacity and having to repay a loan, it will put that much more pressure on the enterprise to recover more quickly.”

The casino enterprise was previously allocated $25m from the federal virus relief aid in August, but funds have run out, putting the four properties at risk of permanent closure.