Casino Pauma announced plans Monday to reopen its doors at the end of this week, becoming the last of San Diego County’s casinos to get back into the gaming business after a months-long pandemic-related closure.
At 6 a.m. Friday, the Pauma Valley casino will reopen for business 24 hours a day. While gaming will resume, not all amenities at Casino Pauma will be available initially and strict social-distancing measures will be in place.
Most of the county’s casinos reopened about 2-1/2 weeks ago, defying the state’s public health guidelines that would have kept casinos closed until at least mid-June. But because the casinos are on tribal lands, they’re not subject to state protocols. Casino Pauma was one of the first to close in mid-March when the coronavirus pandemic arrived locally. And following Pechanga Casino’s delayed return on June 1, Casino Pauma became the last local venue to reopen.
Jim Thomason, general manager of Casino Pauma, said in a statement that the delayed reopening decision was related to the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians’ core value of people coming first.
“Because we are a smaller local casino that does not have a hotel, spa, pool, and other amenities like the larger resorts, it is far easier to manage safety for our guests. Our guests can expect to be around smaller crowds compared to the mega resorts that surround us. Our staff has worked tirelessly to make Casino Pauma a safer environment,” he said.
The new safety protocols at Casino Pauma include the requirement for face coverings and temperature screenings for all staff and guests; alternate slot machines are turned off and slot banks have been moved farther apart; no more than three people will be allowed at table games; plexiglass shields have been installed at the chip cage, players club and restaurants; hand sanitation and wipe stations have been installed in multiple locations; and deep-cleaning procedures will be undertaken daily.
During its first phase of reopening, there will be a capacity limit, no valet parking service and no busing program. The poker room and buffet are closed and there is no live entertainment scheduled.
Opened in 2001, Casino Pauma is a 40,000-square-foot venue with three restaurants, 1,050 slot and video machines and 16 gaming tables. Because Casino Pauma does not have a hotel, like nearby Pala Casino, Harrah’s Southern California Resort and Valley View casinos, it serves a mostly local clientele. For information visit casinopauma.com.