Seneca Nation President searching for a new gaming compact with New York
The president stated casino expansions in New York has negatively impacted operations at Seneca locations.
During a press conference outside of Seneca Niagara Casino, Seneca Nation President Matthew Pagels stated that he’s looking for a “fair, new” gaming compact with the state of New York.
His reasoning for this is that the landscape in New York has changed “drastically” in the 20 years since the Seneca Nation obtained exclusive rights from New York to operate three casinos in the western region of the state.
He went on to note that the expansion of casinos in New York outside the Seneca Nation’s exclusivity territory has had negative impacts on the Seneca Niagara, Buffalo Creek and Seneca Allegany casinos.
Pagels referenced both the Del Lago Resort & Casino in the Finger Lakes and Tioga Downs Casino Resort in Nichols as two newer casinos that were opened with state lawmakers’ approval in recent years.
The increased availability of video lottery terminals (VLT) was also referenced in his speech.
Of the expanded New York casinos, Pagels commented: “That’s pulling from our market.”
Seneca Nation spokesperson Phil Pantano said that his research shows only 10 casinos across New York, Connecticut, West Virginia, Rhode Island and Ontario, Canada when Seneca Niagara Casino first opened in 2002.
Since that date, Pantano stated that there are more than 50 casinos in that area.
Pantano added: “The landscape has exploded.”
The current compact between New York and the Seneca Nation sees the Nation turn over 25% of its slot machine and VLT proceeds to the state.
Pagels described the 25% revenue sharing figure as “far too high” and “unrealistically high.”
The Nations’s three casinos employ over 3,000 workers across the region, with roughly 1,000 in Niagara County.
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