Potawatomi Hotel and Casino suspends operations due to COVID-19: 'The right time to do it'

MILWAUKEE -- Potawatomi Hotel and Casino will suspend operations indefinitely due to the coronavirus outbreak. This, in accordance with the most recent guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Potawatomi Hotel & Casino

The closure will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. Employees will be paid during the closure.

“At this time, the health and safety of our guests and the 2,700 team members at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino is the top priority,” said Rodney Ferguson, CEO and General Manager of the property.

When asked why the decision to shut down business was not made sooner, Ferguson had this to say to FOX6 News.

Potawatomi Hotel & Casino

Rodney Ferguson, CEO and General Manager of Potawatomi Hotel and Casino

"Could we have shut down a week ago, two weeks ago? January? Well, if the information was available, we would have," Ferguson said. "I think now is the right time to do it. The CDC is recommending people stay six feet apart. They're recommending having no more than 50 folks in a group we feel that makes sense."

Guests of the casino and hotel told FOX6 News they agree with the decision to close.

People do cough at the table. So yeah, I kind of wondered when they are going to do it," said Joe Krueger, a Potawatomi guest. "There's a lot of people in there and they are dealing with cards and things like that."

Some guests say they have avoided the casino since the outbreak.

"Like I said, I am staying out of there now. I'm 67 years old you know, so I'm staying out of it," Krueger said.

Potawatomi's CEO said officials will be in communication with local health officials and update guests, team members and the community as needed.