Seneca Nation still holding onto $330M in gaming revenues

Thursday, November 3, 2011  

The Seneca Nation and the state of New York are working on a deal to release $330 million in gaming revenues to local communities.

Local officials expected an announcement that $70 million was coming their way. But nothing happened on Wednesday.

"It’s disappointing,” state Sen. George Maziarz (R) told The Niagara Gazette. “I’m hoping whatever issues now can be resolved relatively quickly. I was hopeful we were at the end here but apparently not.”

Sources told The Buffalo News that an announcement was indeed coming. But the tribe objected to a paragraph in a letter that was sent from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D), the paper said.

At issue is arbitration under the Class III gaming compact. The paragraph said the tribe's failure to name their pick for an arbitrator has prevented "a timely and effective resolution of the issue," the paper reported.

If the deal is reached, it will reportedly allow the tribe to share gaming revenues directly with local communities instead of sending them to the state.

Get the Story:
Senecas kill state plan to announce release of casino funds to WNY (The Buffalo News 11/3)
Did Casino Deny Communities Revenue Funds? (WKBW 11/3)
Despite early announcement, still no casino cash (The Niagara Gazette 11/3)