A view of the gaming floor at the Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel. Photo from Seneca Nation.
Columnist discusses reaction from the Seneca Nation and the Oneida Nation to the expansion of non-Indian gaming in New York:
The tribes, understandably, fear their revenues could be adversely affected by fierce competition only a few hours away. Within days of the announcement — that the state had selected three sites in Seneca, Sullivan and Schenectady counties — Seneca Nation of President Maurice John Sr. made it clear to his people that the Seneca Gaming Corporation was continuing to explore the expansion of its three Western New York operations. In addition to the Seneca casino here, it also has gaming facilities in Buffalo and in Cattaraugus County. In his current message to the Senecas, John noted the selection of the $425 million project in the Town of Tyre is close to the eastern edge of the nation’s “exclusivity zone” in the Finger Lakes. What upsets John and others at the executive level, the proposed site of the Lago Resort & Casino might draw hefty revenues from the present gaming markets (including the Seneca-operated facility) rather than create new revenues sources. Meanwhile, the Oneida Indians, who own and operate the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, east of Utica, were generally reluctant to criticize the state site committee’s decision. “Turning Stone has operated since 1993 as if we had competition, and we’ve been preparing for it since then,” the tribe officials said in a statement,”We reininvest 100 percent of our revenue into our own community, and we will continue to do so.”Get the Story:
Don Glynn: Tribes fear impact from new casinos (The Niagara Gazette 1/22) Also Today:
Cuomo hopes for a ‘blockbuster’ Southern Tier casino (The Lower Hudson Valley Journal News 1/19) Related Stories:
Editorial: Expansion of gaming pushed as quick fix for New York (12/22)
New York passes over tribes for first commercial casino licenses (12/18)
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