Graton Casino

Graton Casino Crime Watch was created to monitor crime created by the Graton Casino and report it to the public using social media. The rapidly escalating crime rates in Rohnert Park and the area surrounding the Graton Casino since the casino's opening in 2013 have become impossible to ignore any longer. Graton casino is not obligated to follow state or county COVID rules; it is located on tribal land governed by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. Gavin Newsom's orders.

ROHNERT PARK, CA — Graton Resort & Casino reopened its doors Thursday morning after pausing operations in March as the coronavirus pandemic reached California and stay-home orders went into effect, shuttering the venue.

In order to reopen, Greg Sarris, tribal chairman for the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, and his team worked closely with state and Sonoma County health officials to institute a number of new policies and procedures — introduced in phases — to keep both guests and team members safe throughout the facility.

'Although Graton Resort & Casino has always been known as one of the cleanest and safest casinos in California, it was very important for us to reexamine our operations from top to bottom and implement the best safety protocols,' Sarris said. 'We look forward to not only welcoming our guests back, but we’re also thrilled for the opportunity to get our Team Members back to work.'

Reviews on Graton Casino Restaurants in Rohnert Park, CA 94928 - 630 Park Steakhouse, Graton Resort and Casino, Daily Grill, Boathouse Asian Eatery, Hana Japanese Restaurant, The Habit Burger Grill, The Twins Restaurant, Slice House, Sushiko, Casa del Mar. The Graton Resort & Casino in Sonoma County, which is on the sovereign land of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, is hosting a 4,000-person private event on New Year's Eve.

In a news release about Thursday's reopening, Graton said almost all of its 1,200 employees who were furloughed during the temporary closure were rehired, and that every employee has been trained on the new safety protocols in accordance with all state and local recommendations.

What To Know About Graton Resort & Casino's New Health And Safety Guidelines

Temperature Checks

Using thermal cameras, non-invasive temperature checks will be conducted for everyone entering the property. Anyone who displays a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will be taken to a private area for a second temperature screening. Those with a fever higher than 100.4 degrees in the secondary temperature will not be allowed to enter.

Electrostatic Sprayers

All areas will be regularly disinfected with electrostatic spray for an additional level of protection.

River Rock Casino

Physical Distancing

Team members and guests must stand at least 6 feet apart while cuing (waiting in line), using elevators or moving around the property.

Slot machines, restaurant tables and other physical layouts are arranged to ensure appropriate distancing.

Graton Casino Reopening

Face Coverings

Everyone who works at Graton and everyone who visits Graton is required to wear a mask covering the nose and mouth at all times.

Team members (employees) will wear personal protective equipment, called PPE, based on their role and responsibilities and in adherence to state, local and/or tribal regulations and guidance.

Hand Sanitizers

Graton has made hand sanitizer dispensers — touchless whenever possible— available throughout the property, including at all major guest and employee entrances, on the casino floor, in the hotel lobby, in the restaurants and in all elevators.

Table Games Operations

Graton has installed plexiglass dividers at all game tables.

Based on the type of table game, Graton is operating games with limited occupancy.

Slot Operations

Slot machines are appropriately arranged for social distancing.

Dining/Drinking

All bars and restaurants —except for Aces and Scoops — are open with modified, reduced seating capacity.

Both cocktail and room service are available.

Entertainment

Graton has canceled all concerts and live entertainment.

Shared Equipment

Graton says all tools and equipment shared among employees — phones, radios, computers and other communication devices, payment terminals, kitchen gadgets, engineering tools, cleaning equipment, keys, time clocks and all other direct-contact items — are sanitized before, during and after each shift or anytime they are transferred to a new employee.

Services Temporarily Unavailable

The Spa & Salon, fitness center and valet service are temporarily suspended.

Guests need to self-park until further notice.

Bus service from select Bay Area cities resumes Monday, June 29.

The Graton Resort & Casino in Sonoma County, which is on the sovereign land of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, is hosting a 4,000-person private event on New Year's Eve. And while county health officials are not happy about it, they can't do anything to stop it.

The casino and resort has remained opened despite the fact that Sonoma County never left the state's 'Purple' tier for COVID spread, and it is technically supposed to be operating at 20% capacity. Reps for Graton Rancheria say that the 4,000-person party will effectively limit capacity at the casino — with total capacity apparently being 20,000. It's not clear who gets on the guest list (presumably some repeat customers and high rollers?), and the casino says they have social-distancing and mask rules in place, as ABC 7 reports.

As of today, hotel rooms at the resort are sold out for December 30, December 31, and January 1. Rooms are also sold out for tomorrow, Christmas night. (Nothing like a night of Blackjack, booze, and Keno to get you in the spirit!)

According to announcements by the resort, the property becomes 'a private venue' at 5 p.m. on December 31, and will reopen to the public at 4 a.m. on New Year's Day.

It’s not clear how the tribe is squaring the region-wide rule against hotel use by anyone but essential workers, but they say they are “work[ing] closely with the Sonoma County Public Health Officer” and the casino “continues to exceed all CDC safety requirements.” Safety measures being taken at the casino include the closure of all bars, and “walk-up alcohol service will end nightly at 9:30 p.m.” Also, “team members are tested for COVID-19 every two weeks and wear digital devices that ensure social distancing.”

None of that really sounds sufficient when you’re talking about gathering four thousand people for drinking and gambling on New Year’s Eve.

But, Sonoma County Public Health officer Dr. Sundari Mase says she’s been in touch with the casino, but can’t herself order the shutdown of this party because of the sovereign land issue. Even though most of the people who work in the casino probably live in the county, the Rohnert Park casino is not in the county’s jurisdiction.

'They are trying to do things with as much mitigation as they can, in terms of limiting indoor capacity to 20% of what's normal, in terms of enforcing facial coverings or masks and social distancing,' Mase tells ABC 7.

A spokesperson for the county health department, Paul Gullixon, said in a press conference Wednesday, 'It would be our preference to not have a party with 4,000 people indoors.'

Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt expressed some reservation about the casino moving forward with the event, but he tells ABC 7 that if they were going to be open on New Year's Eve anyway, it may as well be this way, with some control over the guest list and capacity.

Sonoma County has been one of several in the Bay Area with extremely limited ICU bed capacity, and most of the county's ICU beds have been full in recent weeks. Cases in the county continue to rise 1.6% per day on average over the last two weeks, and the county has 78 COVID patients in hospitals, down from a peak of 80 on December 14.

Photo: Graton Resort/Instagram