Rochester Casino Said to Be Withdrawing from Continuous Seneca Nation Talks over Compact Agreement
Reports suggest that a proposed casino in Rochester, based on a rumored compact between New York State and the Seneca Nation, will not materialize. Both sides are working on revising the tribal gaming revenue-sharing agreement, but there has been no confirmation about a Rochester casino being included.
In June, speculations emerged from Albany indicating that New York State officials were prepared to allow the Senecas to open a casino resort in Rochester as part of the new Class III compact. Currently, the Senecas' compact stipulates that the state receives 25% of the slot machine revenue from their three casinos - Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino, and Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino - in exchange for exclusive rights to slot machines and table games west of State Route 14 near Seneca Lake.
Rumors also surfaced after the Seneca Nation and state officials announced a tentative agreement for an updated tribal gaming pact with a minimum duration of 20 years. The specific terms of the updated agreement were not disclosed at the time.
According to these reports, the state negotiators agreed to reduce the tribe's slot tax from 25% to 19.5% and authorized the Senecas to operate a fourth casino within their gaming territory in Rochester.
Community Outcry
Rochester authorities and many locals protested the state for supposedly bypassing the city in the tribal gaming discussions and potentially sanctioning a casino in their city.
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans (D) expressed frustration over the situation, stating, "How dare someone think they can do something in the city of Rochester and not contact the mayor? It's an issue of disrespect."
Seneca Nation officials maintained that the fault lay with the state. Governor Kathy Hochul's (D) husband works for Delaware North, which has interests in commercial gaming in New York, so Hochul recused herself from the Seneca compact negotiations. The erstwhile negotiators were tasked with consulting local officials, but they didn't do so, claimed Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong Sr.
"The blame for keeping Rochester officials out of the loop lies directly at the feet of the executive. The Nation regularly consulted our legislative branch, and expected that the executive was doing the same," Armstrong remarked.
A consensus on the new compact resulted in the New York Assembly refusing to pass legislation authorizing Hochul to sign the agreement in principle.
Compact Uncertainty
The Seneca Nation compact is set to expire in December, although the document allows it to continue until new terms are established. In the absence of a new deal, the tribe will store its 25% slice of the slot revenue in a trust account.
The tribe conveyed to WGRZ, an NBC affiliate in Rochester, that the state had "put forth an unfair proposal" that deviated from its previous stance during negotiations in June.
"The state negotiators recently presented us an unreasonable, unfair, and unacceptable proposal that was far different than their position when negotiations were paused in June," listed the Seneca Nation. "This type of gamesmanship cannot continue. The Seneca people and the residents of Western New York deserve a better outcome."
However, the tribe asserted that "there is enough time to reach a deal" before the December deadline.
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Source: www.casino.org
