The Seneca Nation continues to discuss its Class III gaming compact dispute with officials in New York.
Under the compact, the tribe agreed to share 25 percent of slot machine revenues with the state. But the tribe is withholding $214 million because it says the state has violated the exclusivity provisions of the compact by allowing an expansion of non-Indian gaming. “It is important that Seneca Nation and Seneca Gaming employees, as well as all Senecas and our Western New York patrons, know that we are in ongoing discussions with the state on the gaming compact disagreements,” President Robert Odawi Porter said in a press release. “We are committed to our point of view that the state violates the compact daily, but we are also most interested in settling these issues so payments can resume to our gaming facilities’ neighboring communities.” The compact gives the parties time to discuss their differences. The clock is still running and it's possible that the tribe might be able to resolve the issue when incoming Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) takes office next month. Outgoing Gov. David Paterson (D) has threatened to terminate the compact unless the tribe pays up. The tribe has instead offered to share revenues directly with affected communities, an idea embraced by local officials and some state lawmakers. Get the Story: