Hundreds brave the heat to gamble again as FOX 11 gets exclusive look inside latest SoCal casino to reopen

Soboba Casino reopens amid pandemic

Gamblers braved the heat hoping to catch fire at the tables at the Soboba Casino in San Jacinto. They opened the doors... Its the first time since being shut down because of the pandemic in early March. Christina Gonzalez got an exclusive peek at the first day.

SAN JACINTO, Calif. - It may have been over 90 degrees outside, but that didn’t stop people from lining up outside and go through temperature screenings to get into San Jacinto’s Soboba Casino.

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Gambling houses closed down back in March due to COVID-19 virus spread concerns and this is one of three Riverside Casinos to reopen.

Among the new safety factors, temperature checks, masks, plastic shields, and no smoking inside the gambling hall.

On the other hand, some restaurants, even bars, are open. Soboba sits in tribal land, so California guidelines doesn't necessarily apply.

With that said, sitting is spaced out, and as Soboba GM Jazon Cozart explains, it remains a work in progress “new things pop up every day with this new normal."

Take a look at our story, and see what they are doing.

If you go, pack your mask, and keep in mind that with spacing and temperature checks, it takes a little longer to get in, and it is HOT outside.

Also, the hotel remains closed and at least for now, smoking is not allowed in the gambling hall, only outside, in designated areas.