"Perhaps at one time New York state’s strategy of sitting out the Seneca on the issues surrounding casino gambling had a point. Not any more. Not when this impasse is hurting communities.

It’s way past time for the state and the tribe to settle their differences, of which there seem to be fairly few, none of them terribly complex. An accord could free up hundreds of millions of dollars for the state and municipalities at a time when they clearly need it, in some cases desperately.

The benefits of not working this out? Short of keeping negotiators employed, perhaps, we have no idea.

The dispute, which has been going on for several years now, is centered on competition the Seneca face from state-sanctioned racetrack video lottery terminal parlors. The tribe, which operates casinos in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Salamanca, wants three things: that the racinos not call themselves casinos; that the VLTs not be called slots, and for the state to say it will honor its word not to put competing casinos in their areas through 2023, even if voters legalize non-tribal casino gambling."

Get the Story:
Editorial: New York’s 
dicey bet (The Albany Times-Union 7/31)

Related Stories:
New York communities cut back without tribal gaming revenues (7/30)