Grant said the casino expects reduced business levels because of the stay-at-home order, but it also is also taking steps to control crowds. This year, the casino has been more focused on managing capacity.
Grant said that in previous years, Augustine has hosted an extremely popular New Year’s Eve buffet and that the casino would invite many of its top VIPs and comp their meals. “I would say that this is a toned-down version of what we normally do,” said Lindsay Grant, director of marketing at Augustine Casino in Coachella. When it comes to New Year’s, some casinos have significantly modified their New Year’s Eve offerings while others have canceled them completely. The stay-at-home orders have forced the temporary closure of many businesses, but Southern California’s tribal casinos have a measure of sovereignty that allows them to stay open and have events if they choose. This year, the mood will be much different at most of Southern California’s casinos because of the novel coronavirus pandemic and new stay-at-home orders issued by California that effectively grounded nonessential travel between the hours of 10 p.m.
In a normal year, Southern California’s tribal-owned casinos are New Year’s Eve destinations: restaurants serve decadent meals, concert venues bring in big stars and some properties even break out the fireworks.
