Royal River announces temporary closure

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FLANDREAU – James McDermott, general manager of the Royal River Casino and Hotel, and Anthony Reider, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe president, issued a statement Tuesday announcing the temporary closure of the casino and hotel.

“In these times of uncertainty, we want you to know that the health, safety and security of our guests and team members have and will continue to be the top priority of Royal River Casino and Hotel and the Flandreau Santee Sioux tribal leadership. Now more than ever, our business is you,” the statement said.

“Royal River Casino and Hotel and the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal Executive Committee have made the difficult decision that it is in the best interest of our guests and team members to temporarily close the property effective 11:59 p.m. March 31,” the statement said. “We want to remind our guest and team members that there are currently no positive COVID-19 tests in Moody County or related to the Royal River Casino and Hotel.”

“We will continue to work with the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe clinical staff, Indian Health Services and South Dakota Department of Health and look to the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization’s for guidance on travel restrictions and responsibility of hosting public gatherings. In this respect Royal River Casino and Hotel will remain closed until the public risk of exposure to COVID-19 decreases and the Emergency Closure Order issued by the Tribal Executive Committee is lifted.”

Effective immediately the First American Mart will change the operating hours to 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily for the period that Royal River Casino and Hotel remains closed. The fuel pumps will be available 24 hours a day via debit or credit card purchase.

Effective immediately, Royal River Casino and Hotel has suspended the entertainment through May 31. This includes rescheduling the Tribute to Johnny Cash show to July 11, 2020. Tickets from the March date will be honored for the July 11 show. 

The BuckCherry show for May 9, has been rescheduled for Sept. 11. Tickets purchased for the May show will be valid for the Sept. 11 show. In the event guests are unable to attend the rescheduled dates for the shows, refunds can be received by visiting their point of sale.