Tensions between the state of New York and the Seneca Nation are rising amid a Class III gaming compact dispute.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) abruptly canceled a meeting with President Todd Gates that was to take place on Tuesday, Spectrum News Buffalo reported. The reason given was a "criminal investigation" into an alleged listening device found in a tribally-owned building in which the New York State Gaming Commission leases space, reporter Ryan Whalen wrote on Twitter. "A source tells me the investigation has been going on for 'some time,'" Whalen added in another post. An unnamed "official" from the Cuomo administration followed up on that development with a threat delivered through The Buffalo News. The state will authorize a non-Indian casino in Niagara Falls, where the tribe operates the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, if the tribe doesn't resume revenue sharing payments, the official said. “If they don’t fulfill their obligations to continue payments and to honor the compact, we are going to pursue putting an additional casino in Niagara Falls,’’ the unnamed official said.The gaming compact at issue went into effect in 2002. Since then, the tribe has shared $1.2 billion with the state. Gates announced an end to the payments in March, saying the terms of the compact did not authorize them past 14 years. The state hasn't said anything publicly about the matter until now. Read More on the Story:Erie County DA investigating allegations by the NYS Gaming Authority that itss employees were "eavesdropped" on by Seneca Gaming Authority.
— Ryan Whalen (@RyanWhalenCT) August 21, 2017