In New York, a three-member arbitration panel has reportedly ruled by a two-to-one margin that the casino-operating Seneca Nation of Indians must resume handing over one-quarter of its slot revenues to the state.
The Seneca Nation of Indians is responsible for the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo as well as Salamanca’s Seneca Allegany Resort and Casino and had argued that its 14-year gaming compact with the state.
Had concluded at the end of 2016, which controversially meant that it was no longer required to make the payments totaling approximately $100 million a year.
However, the state had countered via an official action initiated through New York Governor Andrew Cuomo by claiming that the original 2002 compact had been automatically renewed three years ago to keep the tribe on the hook for these payments through to the end of 2023.
“It was clear to us that the Seneca Nation of Indians had an obligation to continue payments, period. According to the compact, this arbitration process was prescribed to resolve conflicts and now that it has concluded, we ask that the Seneca Nation of Indians cease any further delays, make the state and local communities whole and resume payments.” Stated Rich Azzopardi, Senior Advisor to Cuomo.
“We continue to believe, as anyone who has read the compact, that the Seneca Nation of Indians’ compact payment obligation was fulfilled, and we believe we had an obligation to the Seneca Nation of Indians’ people to defend the compact as it was written and agreed upon. None of that changes with this arbitration opinion.” Answered, Rickey Armstrong (pictured), President for the Seneca Nation of Indians
