The casino scene is almost typical-except for the darkened and cordoned-off bar. Inside the huge building north of Española, row upon row of people face the bright flashing screens of slot machines and a virtual blackjack table guided by a busty woman on a digital screen. This night, cars pack into the parking lot of the casino under an enormous glowing sign that's shrouded in a thin veil of smoke from nearby wildfires. The monthslong closures this spring and summer mean New Mexico is already missing millions in revenue-sharing that's not likely to rebound any time soon. The state has 14 tribes that operate more than 25 gaming operations, and as tribal leaders wrestle with cashflow, more are slated to reopen soon.
But on a Saturday night in the late summer of 2020, Ohkay Hotel Casino is one of just five tribal casinos open. READ MORE: COVID-19 Impacts on Gambling Disorder Support >Ī pre-pandemic weekend night would normally fill casinos and racetracks up and down the corridors of New Mexico to the brim with both locals and tourists.
