Final US commercial casinos close amid Covid-19 outbreak

The American Gaming Association (AGA) has repeated its call for the federal government to support the US gambling industry after the last remaining commercial casinos temporarily closed their doors in response to the outbreak of novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

South Dakota had been the only state in which casinos remained open, but after Deadwood Mayor Dave Ruth Jr. ordered the closure of casinos in the city, this means that all 465 commercial casinos across the US have now shut.

Around 97% of the 524 tribal casinos in the US have also closed, with just 16 smaller locations still open.

According to the AGA, this mass closure means 98% of all gaming venues across the US are now closed, in a move that has affected 98% of the country’s casino workforce – almost 649,000 people – putting around $74bn in annual wages at risk.

Read the full story on iGB North America.