Governor pressures Seneca Nation to resolve gaming dispute

Wednesday, April 3, 2013  

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is pressuring the Seneca Nation to resolve a Class III gaming compact dispute.

The state and the tribe are in arbitration over exclusivity provisions in the compact. The tribe says the state has allowed an expansion of non-Indian gaming and has withheld a reported $600 million in revenues as a result.

Cuomo told The Buffalo News that talks could wrap up in a couple of months. But he said he will proceed with a non-Indian casino in Niagara Falls regardless of the outcome.

“If we work it out, fine,” Cuomo told the paper. “But in the meantime, I will proceed with the bidding process.”

An expansion of non-Indian gaming would require a change in the state constitution, which requires voter approval.

Get the Story:
Governor ‘very serious’ about state casino in the Falls (The Buffalo News 4/3)
Gates Supervisor All In On Proposed Casino For Seneca Nation (YNN 4/2)

City to get $2.5M for missing Seneca Nation casino revenues (02/26)