Seneca Nation, state still feuding on new gaming compact

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Seneca Nation and New York State continue to feud over a new gaming compact, after the most recent short-term contract extension less than two years ago.

Seneca Nation president J.C. Seneca said that the Nation approached Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state in July to begin negotiations for a new compact involving the three casinos in Western New York: Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in downtown Buffalo, Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls and Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino in Salamanca.

Under the current compact, the Seneca Nation pays a 25% of revenues on slot machines and other gaming devices to the state in exchange for gaming licenses and the exclusive rights to offer the gaming devices west of State Route 14.

Seneca said that negotiations stalled after initial discussions in July, and the two sides have not had formal negotiations.

"The Seneca Nation has done everything in its power to try to get the governor to the table to be a part of the dialogue," Seneca said following meetings on Wednesday. "This has got to change. We cannot afford to draw this on anymore, drag this on, it's been three-plus years of this process of negotiating this compact."

The original compact that entitled the state to 25% was signed more than two decades ago in 2002. Seneca has said previously that he doesn't believe the state should be getting any money from the gaming compact.

"We presented our compact we had put together to the governor's office and it was basically trashed. It was a slap in our face," Seneca said. "I'm not going to stand for it, and I'm pissed off right now about it. I'm not going to stand for it, our people are not going to stand for it, and the council will not stand for the mistreatment by the executive chamber. We got to change it, and that's what we're going to do."

"As a native Western New Yorker, Governor Hochul is committed to strengthening the government-to-government relationship between the Seneca Nation and the State of New York, which is why she invited President Seneca and other nation leaders to Albany for a wide ranging conversation earlier this year," a spokesperson for the governor said in a statement Wednesday. "The Governor is committed to doing what is best on behalf of the State and all of Western New York, and our Administration continues to act in good faith toward the Seneca Nation of Indians as we work toward an agreement on the gaming compact that is fair and serves the interests of all parties."

According to an economic impact study released by the Seneca Nation on Wednesday, the Nation is responsible for nearly $2 billion of economic impact, including more than 8,000 jobs they support in Western New York. That works out to more than $540 million in wages, according to the study.

The Seneca Nation operates more than 30 businesses across Western New York, including the casinos as well as hotels, spas, restaurants, gas stations, cannabis shops and other entertainment venues and conference centers. The Nation also recently bought the National Lacrosse League's Rochester Knighthawks, a rival of the Buffalo Bandits.

"I'm upset about the situation," Seneca said of the state negotiations. "The slow-moving process, the almost stagnant process in regards to any kind of relationship or discussions to get resolved to this compact situation."