Separate lawsuits have been filed by the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations against insurance companies seeking judicial rulings that financial losses to casinos and other businesses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are covered by business interruption policies.
A report in The Oklahoman on the known specifics of the suits states that the insurers have not specifically denied that these are covered losses, but similar denial of losses have happened in Louisiana (in Cajun Conti, LLC, et al. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's London, et al., Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, Louisiana; which you can read about here) and in other locations.
Where insurers have denied claims, they have taken the stance that since no physical damage has occurred to the property, no covered losses have actually occurred.
The tribes closed their casinos in order to help "flatten the curve." Other businesses the tribes operate including hotels and travel plazas have been impacted by the spread of the virus and the casinos closing.
Editors Note: With enormous losses already mounting, the COVID-19 virus will surely result in hundreds of lawsuits between insurers and insureds in the next few months. A prudent attorney might want to keep an eye on suits being filed and be aware of what policy provisions are present in their client's policies that may come into play in the near future.