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Small casinos in Butte concerned social distancing guidelines will prevent them from reopening

Posted at 2:39 PM, Apr 28, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-28 16:39:34-04

While many bars and restaurants are eager to open on May 4th, some small casinos and bars Butte will find this difficult.

“I know some other casinos that are as small as we are are not opening on May 4th for he same reason that we are not,” said Carzee Carol’s Casino manager Deb Dinius.

The reason is the social distancing guidelines that require at least six feet of separation between customers. In a business like Crazee Carol’s Casino, this doesn’t leave much room.

“We still can only have a total of maybe three people in here at one time. That does not pay your power, that does not pay your wages, that does not pay your drinks,” said Dinius.

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The casino was rejected from getting loans because its revenue is mainly through gaming. Management wishes guidelines could be more accommodating for smaller businesses, but until then, they will adapt.

“We’re not going no where by any means, but we’re having a hard time riding the storm out, we are going to ride it out, we’re going to protect our customers and employees, and I’ll say that a million times,” said Dinius.

So in this room, if they’re going to follow the guild lines, they might be able to fit two machines, so without some customized guide lines for smaller businesses, well, they’re out of luck.

“I’m just wondering if there is a way that our county officials can come around to smaller places and help us customize a guideline,” said Dinius.

The federal government just recently amended its Paycheck Protection Program loan to include those in the gaming industry.