With a note that there is no further information and that no interviews would be granted regarding this latest bit of news, the Seneca’s revealed their intention to build a new casino in the Catskill Mountain region of New York. The Senecas released Public Relations Director Phil Pantano in the latest round of layoffs this past December along with over 200 workers as seen in this Business First article.
SENECA NATION, CATTARAUGUS TERRITORY, Jan. 3, 2009 – The Seneca Nation of Indians and a Michigan company have an exclusive agreement to develop and manage a Class III gaming resort in the Catskill Mountains region of New York that is projected to produce annual revenues to state and local governments of $160 million when it’s complete.
Nation President Barry E. Snyder Sr. said today that the Seneca Nation has had the exclusive agreement for the last 18 months with Rotate Black Gaming Inc. to develop and manage the region’s first major casino, 80 miles north of New York City in Monticello.
The estimated payments to New York governments would exceed the annual total of what is paid to governments by the Nation’s three existing casinos in Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Salamanca in Western New York.
“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,” President Snyder said.
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 as an opportunity to establish a Class III gaming facility in proximity to the New York City, northern New Jersey, western Connecticut and northeast Pennsylvania markets. The casino would be expected to generate significant income from out-of-state residents.
The Nation has not yet approached Gov. David A. Paterson regarding this proposed venture, but plans to do so in the future. State efforts to impose taxation on treaty-protected commerce taking place on existing Nation territories serves as an obstacle to immediate progress.
Rotate Black acquired a 63-acre parcel of land in the Town of Monticello near Route 17’s Exit 107 and is in the process of transferring that land to the Nation.
The Nation will hold the land in “fee status” and pay taxes on it until the United States puts the land in
restricted fee or trust status.
The Nation is not utilizing the provisions of the Seneca Settlement Act to acquire this land.
The Nation is acquiring the land in anticipation of a change in national policy by the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama regarding gaming on newly acquired territories. The Bush Administration established a firm policy against so-called “off-territory” gaming two years ago and all such proposals nationally have been stymied ever since.
Rotate Black projects that a fully developed Catskills casino will generate approximately $160 million in exclusivity fees to state and local governments, which is greater than what is currently being paid state and local governments under the Nation’s existing Class III compact for its three Western New York casinos. No other Indian nation in the state provides such sizable payments to state and local governments. Further, development of a Catskills gaming resort would have economic benefits for Western New York, as well, providing the Seneca Nation with revenue to invest in and around its other resort casinos.
Unlike the bailout plans from Washington for the financial and auto industries, a Seneca Nation Catskills casino would cost the federal, state, county and local governments nothing.
The envisioned casino project is slated to include an all-suites hotel, enclosed pool environment, multiple restaurants, banquet facilities, food court, and spa. The development has been designed by Friedmutter & Associates, in conjunction with Perini Construction.
Rotate Black, publicly traded on the NASDAQ, is headquartered in Petoskey, MI and has experience in both Indian and non-Indian gaming. The company expects to complete a $70 million casino development in Dayton, NV in 2010 and is also in partnership in Goa, India to acquire a five-star resort there.
The Nation’s Tribal Council established the Seneca Catskills Gaming Corp. as its development arm for this venture. The corporation is chaired by Kevin Seneca, the Nation’s former treasurer.