Gaming technology company IGT is implementing furloughs and salary reductions at its various U.S. operations as COVID-19 continues to adversely affect the casino industry.

IGT, which counts slot machine manufacturing and lotto technology in its portfolio, cited the impact of the novel coronavirus on its clients as the reason for undertaking the cuts, which will include employees in Nevada.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on many of IGT’s customers and markets we serve,” the company said in a statement provided to the Reno Gazette Journal by Phil O’Shaughnessy, vice president of global communications.

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“Our priority is to protect the health of people, while we take responsible actions to serve our customers and stakeholders.”

IGT’s actions will bring the company in line with the decreased demand being seen from players and customers, it said. The cost-cutting measures will impact not just the company’s regular employees but its senior staff as well.

“These include base salary reductions for senior leaders and the implementation of short-term furlough programs for certain employee groups,” according to IGT.

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O’Shaughnessy did not provide information on the number of employees that will be impacted in Nevada and other states. Media outlet WPRI is reporting, however, that the company will be furloughing 320 employees in Rhode Island, citing the closure of two casinos in the state that IGT serves. The television station reported that employee furloughs will start on Monday and last for eight weeks.

The Rhode Island closures are dwarfed by the casino closures in Nevada, which ordered all non-essential businesses to shut down in mid-March. The Nevada Resort Association warned of a potential $39 billion loss in economic activity in the Silver State as a result of the shuttered casino operations across the state.

The closures have also hurt supporting industries such as IGT, which says cuts are necessary to ensure the company’s viability moving forward.

“We will continue to work diligently to support the welfare of our people with a focus on our industry’s short-term sustainability and longer-term success,” the company said.

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Jason Hidalgo covers business and technology for the Reno Gazette Journal. Follow him on Twitter @jasonhidalgo. Like this content? Support local journalism with an RGJ digital subscription.