Indian Gaming

The Cayuga Nation was in court on Friday to dispute a gaming deal between the Oneida Nation and the state of New York.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) agreed to a zone of exclusivity for the Oneida Nation in exchange for a share of the tribe's gaming revenues. But the zone includes land owned by the Cayuga Nation so the tribe says its rights are affected.

"We are objecting to a provision that is illegal. We need to be here to be heard, and that is all we want -- to be heard," Cayuga Nation attorney David DeBruin told the judge, The Syracuse Post-Standard reported.

The gaming deal is part of a larger settlement between the Oneida Nation and the state that addresses various issues. However, it does not appear that the tribe will be seeking to amend its Class III gaming compact -- a step that would require the involvement of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The federal government is not a party to the settlement between the Oneida Nation and the state either. So the Cayuga Nation fears that it won't be able to object to the deal except through New York v. Jewell, a land-into-trust case between the state and the BIA.

The settlement would end the litigation and pave the way for final approval of the Oneida Nation's land-into-trust application. The state and the Oneida Nation object to the inclusion of the Cayuga Nation in the case.

Meanwhile, the BIA is still considering the Cayuga Nation's land-into-trust application, which includes parcels that the is using for Class II gaming. The tribe argues that any future attempts at Class III gaming will be foreclosed under the Oneida Nation deal.

Get the Story:
Cayugas could tie up state-Oneida nation casino deal for years, lawyer says (The Syracuse Post-Standard 8/9)
Cayuga Indians want to ask judge to halt Oneida Nation casino deal (The Syracuse Post-Standard 8/9)

Related Stories:
Editorial: State must come to table for Cayuga Nation gaming (07/31)
Judge considers arguments over Oneida Nation casino zone (07/25)