"New York State Governor David Paterson again finds himself in a battle with the Seneca Nation, a Native American group that enjoys special treaty rights and considers itself separate from the state.

The latest issue between the two groups is the state's claim that the Senecas owe over $200 million in revenue-sharing payments. The payments are required under a 2001 compact that permits the Senecas to operate three gambling casinos in Western New York, including the popular Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls.

If the Senecas fail to make the payments speedily, the state is threatening to shut the casinos down. That is quite the threat; the Seneca Niagara Casino is definitely one of the biggest attractions in the area and figures to bring in a whole lot more money than most other things around.

The state may try to temporarily shut the casinos down to scare the Senecas into paying up, but the editorial board feels that the state needs those casinos just as bad as the Senecas, making a permanent shutdown highly unlikely.

The Senecas are refusing to abide by the revenue-sharing agreement because they say the state has already breached the compact by violating the Senecas' exclusivity rights. To make it simple, the Seneca casinos are supposed to be the only form of legal gambling in the state."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Yet another showdown between state and Senecas (The University of Buffalo Spectrum 10/11)

Related Stories:
Seneca Nation holds meetings over disputed compact payment (10/8)
New York governor threatens to terminate Seneca gaming deal (10/7)
City making cuts in response to Seneca Nation compact dispute (9/20)
Seneca Nation holding slot revenues from off-reservation casino (9/13)
Seneca Nation accuses state of violating Class III casino compact (8/31)