Towers Casino Grass Valley California

GRASS VALLEY (CBS13) — As some casinos set a reopening date for June, one has been up and going since Monday. The Towers Casino in Grass Valley announced they are open for card games, despite the state order not to. But on Tuesday night, employees told CBS13 they had been told to shut down by order of the governor. Towers Casino, Grass Valley, CA. 593 likes 667 were here. Best Casinos in Grass Valley, CA 95945 - Towers Casino & Card Room, Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Red Hawk Casino, Feather Falls Casino & Lodge, Gold Country Casino Resort, Casino Marysville, Magnolia House Casino, DEUCES WILD CASINO & LOUNGE, Parkwest Casino Cordova, Capitol Casino.

Despite coronavirus restrictions still in place regarding gambling establishments and other entertainment venues, a casino in Northern California decided to go ahead and reopen. Towers Casino located in Grass Valley posted via social media and their website that they were back in business on Monday. One day later, agents from the state’s Department of Justice raided the facility, shutting them down.

Busting Up Casino Operations:

The incident was made public after several videos were posted on social media by guests and employees of the casino. In one video, an agent of the DOJ says it will not be a permanent closure but an emergency one.

According to Sacbee.com…

Brandt Jeffrey, who is reportedly a poker dealer for the casino based on his Facebook profile, posted two videos earlier in the week, showing about six agents with police vests and surgical masks standing around the poker table. They explained to those onsite that they would have to stop their game and the facility must close.

In the video, it appears as though Jamey Robinson, the owner of the casino, is protesting the shutdown by speaking loudly. She states that the raid is unconstitutional. She pulled her mask down while speaking, stating she was shocked by the occurrence.

The owner counts everyone at the Towers Casino and says that with less than 15 people, counting employees and the agents, that the maximum amount is nowhere near being reached. The property is allowed 180 people. She then says the agents are increasing the transmission risk of the virus by coming to the facility from out of town.

Apparently, the Grass Valley Police Department had requested the facility shut down. However, the owner refused. According to the owner, she was cleared to open by the health officials in Nevada County.

When speaking to the agents, the owner is seen asking on the video why the entire property has to shut down. She also operates a bar and restaurant. The agents appear to give staff members a copy of the stay at home order as their answer.

Casino jumped the gun

A California casino was shut down by the governor for violating the state’s lockdown order just a day after it reopened. The Towers Casino in Grass Valley excitedly announced on its Facebook page that it was open on Monday after being closed for two months. Unfortunately for the casino, it was not supposed to do so and it was forced to shutter once again.

Grass Valley is in Nevada County, about 56 miles northeast of Sacramento. Nevada County does have the state government’s approval to speed up phase 2 of Calfornia’s plan to modify the stay-at-home order, but that applies to restaurants, malls, and childcare facilities, not casinos. Casinos come in the next phase.

Thus, the shutdown order from Governor Gavin Newsom on Towers Casino’s second day back in operation.

Trying to stay safe

Towers Casino Grass Valley Ca

The casino emphasized that it was taking strict safety precautions to keep customers and staff safe. There is a sign on the door telling patrons to wash their hands before they play. Employees have also been instructed to sanitize chips after they are exchanged at the cashier, sanitize cup holders after every use, and wipe down table rails whenever a person leaves.

Three of the casino’s six poker tables were in use for cash games. As can be seen in the pictures the casino posted on Facebook, players did don face coverings, from surgical-type masks to cloth masks to bandanas. It does not appear that anyone, including the poker dealer, was wearing gloves.

Governor can’t stop all casinos from opening

Governor Newsom has been battling to try to get people and businesses to adhere to California’s COVID-19 pandemic safety rules. As we reported Tuesday, he has been having some trouble with Native American-operated casinos. While the governor does have the authority to force a venue like Towers Casino to stay closed, he does not have that same pull with tribal casinos. Because their casinos are on sovereign land, they are do not fall under state regulatory control.

Most tribal casinos in California are waiting until at least June 1 to reopen, but three have opened or plan to open this week. Viejas Casino & Resort and Sycuan Casino Resort have already welcomed back gamblers and Valley View Casino is set to open back up on Friday.

All Governor Newsom can do is ask them to stay closed. He can’t make them.

“I understand that some tribal governments are planning on reopening casinos on their lands,” Newsom wrote in a letter to the tribes on Friday. “This deeply concerns me, and I urge tribal governments to reconsider and instead make those determinations based on how they align with the current local public health conditions and the statewide stage of reopening.”

Towers Casino Grass Valley California Map

“….in the spirit of sovereign-to-sovereign engagement I respectfully request that until a surrounding or neighboring local jurisdiction has legally progressed into Stage 3, your tribal casinos remain closed,” he said.

Towers Casino Grass Valley California Valley

While it remains to be seen if reopening any casinos, be they tribal or commercial, is a good idea, the three California casinos are at least implementing safety policies and are not running at full capacity.