Legal issues cloud off-reservation casino

Monday, February 19, 2007

The Seneca Nation of New York already broke ground on its off-reservation casino in Buffalo but the site's legality remains in question.

The tribe bought the site with land claim settlement funds. Under an exception in Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, that means the land could be used for a casino.

But a federal judge last month ruled that the National Indian Gaming Commission failed to determine whether the tribe satisfied the exception. The agency has been ordered to reconsider the case.

Meanwhile, local officials question whether the casino will revitalize the economy as promised. They worry that gamblers won't want to travel to Buffalo, forcing the tribe to target area residents.

Get the Story:
Buffalo Looks for Work but Debates Casino's Value (The New York Times 2/19)
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