Compacts | New York

Oneida Nation announces start of revenue sharing from casino

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

The Oneida Nation will start sharing slot machine revenues with the state of New York on April 1.

The tribe will contribute 25 percent every quarter. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said he expects about $50 million every year.

Of that amount, a portion will go to Oneida County and to Madison County. They were part of a settlement [PDF] that was approved by a federal judge last week.

“This agreement is not just a piece of paper with words and signatures on it. It is the culmination of a two-century cycle. It is a cycle that went from conflict, to begrudging acceptance of our sovereignty, to collaboration to now, finally, an enduring partnership," Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter said in a press release. "It is as much a financial agreement about shared revenue, as it is a compact enshrining a shared vision for the future of this region.”

The tribe has an existing Class III gaming compact. An amended version with revenue sharing provisions doesn't appear to have been submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

As part of the settlement, the tribe made a one-time payent of $11 million to the state to resolve property tax issues in Madison County. The county will receive the entire amount.

Oneida County will also get $2.5 million every year for property taxes for the next 19 and a half years.

Get the Story:
Cuomo on Oneida Nation's $11 million payment to Madison County: 'Today's a really great step forward' (The Auburn Citizen 3/12)
Gov. Andrew Cuomo: Oneida Indian agreement 'ends centuries of disputes' (The Syracuse Post-Standard 3/12)
Madison County to receive first $11 million from Oneida Nation settlement by April 1 (The Oneida Daily Dispatch 3/12)
Cuomo touts tribal deal for casino money (The Albany Times-Union 3/11)
Cuomo: First $11 million payment made in Oneida Nation deal (AP 3/11)