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Navajo Nation Casinos Extend Closure, Begin Layoffs

Courtesy

The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise has extended its closure through at least August 16th and begun its first round of layoffs of over 900 employees. A second round will affect another 140 people beginning next week.

Four Navajo Nation-owned casinos have been closed since mid-March due to the pandemic and during that time employees continued to receive their paychecks. But officials say funds are now running critically low. The gaming enterprise is working with the Navajo Nation government to receive federal CARES Act funding which would enable them to rescind the layoffs and continue to offer paid leave to employees.