St. Regis Mohawk Tribe accuses state of violating gaming pact

Wednesday, October 20, 2010  

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe has stopped sharing gaming revenues with the state of New York.

Tribal leaders said the state has violated the exclusivity provisions of the Class III gaming compact. "We cannot continue to make payments to the State of New York, when they have not upheld their end of our agreement,” Chief Mark Garrow said in a statement.

“Under federal law, a State cannot tax a tribal gaming operation," Garrow said. "Instead, Revenue Sharing is made in exchange for the exclusive right to operate slot machines. The State has failed to protect that right.”

The tribe is withholding $4.9 million from the last quarter. In 2008, the tribe paid a total of $55.5 million, a state spokesperson said.

The Seneca Nation is also withholding $214 million from the state over exclusivity claims.

Get the Story:
Tribe claims state in violation of Tribal Gaming Compact (Empire State News 10/20)
Tribe stops sharing revenues with state (The Watertown Daily Times 10/20)
Casino stops sharing profits with N.Y. State (The Cornwall Standard Freeholder 10/20)
Mohawks stop sharing NY casino revenue with state (AP 10/19)