St. Regis Mohawk Tribe pays $30M to end compact dispute

Wednesday, May 22, 2013  

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe agreed to pay $30 million to the state of New York to end a Class III gaming compact dispute.

The tribe stopped sharing revenues in 2010 after accusing the state of violating exclusivity provisions in the compact. An estimated $59 million was withheld.

In a deal with Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), the tribe agreed to pay $30 million to end the dispute. The state will distribute 25 percent of that amount to two counties affected by the tribe's gaming operation.

The tribe agreed to share 25 percent of net gaming revenues going forward. In exchange, the state agreed to an exclusivity zone in an eight-county region.

"We’ve waited many years for a Governor who was willing to sit down with all the parties to the land claim to come to a negotiated settlement. Governor Cuomo has accomplished much in the short time we’ve been meeting directly with him. He has given us assurances that our outstanding issues will be dealt with fairly,” Chief Ron LaFrance, Jr. said in a press release.

Get the Story:
Mohawks, state reach agreement on casino revenue (The Watertown Daily Times 5/21)
Cuomo makes a Mohawk deal; now for the Senecas (The Albany Times-Union 5/21)
St. Regis Mohawks, state come to agreement over casino revenue; tribe to pay $30 million plus 25% of future earnings (North County Now 5/21)
Mohawks ink gaming exclusivity deal for North Country (North Country Public Radio 5/21)
Mohawks, Cuomo reach deal on casino revenue (The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle 5/21)
State gets cash, Mohawks hold onto gaming rights for region, including Warren County (The Glens Falls Post-Star‎ 5/22)
Cuomo Signs Deal With Mohawks to Protect Casino Territory (The New York Times 5/22)
What the Mohawk casino deal means for the North Country (North Country Public Radio 5/22)
Cuomo, Mohawk Leaders Sign Casino Pact (AP 5/22)
Cuomo reaches deal giving North Country tribe exclusive casino rights (The Buffalo News 5/22)

An Opinon:
Editorial: Landmark deal (The Watertown Daily Times 5/22)

New York governor threatens tribes with non-Indian gaming (05/10)