GAMBLING
Senecas plan to build Catskills casino
The Seneca Nation of Indians announced Saturday that it has an agreement with a Michigan company to develop and operate a casino and resort in the Catskills that could raise $160 million in annual revenue for state and local governments.
Seneca Nation President Barry
E. Snyder Sr. said the Nation has had the agreement with Rotate Black Gaming for the past 18 months. The casino complex would be built in Monticello, about 80 miles north of New York City.
The annual estimated revenue for government could surpass the total from all of the Nation’s three casinos operating in Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Salamanca, Snyder said.
“The Nation views development of a Catskills casino with the state as yet another example of ‘win-win’ economic development, like the Nation’s existing Class III facilities, which have generated more than 4,000 jobs and $300 million in direct payments to the state,” he added.
The Nation has yet to approach Gov. David A. Paterson on the proposal.
In 2002, the State Legislature authorized development of three Indian casinos in the Catskills region. The Seneca Nation has long had an interest in the Catskills because of its proximity to New York City, the Tri-State region and northeast Pennsylvania.
Rotate Black acquired 63 acres in Monticello, near Route 17, and is in the process of transferring that land to the Nation, which is not employing provisions of the Seneca Settlement Act to acquire the site but anticipates a change of national policy on newly acquired territories for gambling by the incoming Obama administration. The Bush administration two years ago established a policy against “off-territory” gambling.
The proposed casino project would include an all-suites hotel, enclosed pool, several restaurants, banquet facilities, a food court and spa. The development has been designed by Friedmutter & Associates, in conjunction with Perini Construction.
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