Seneca Nation Casino Revenue
A federal judge has ruled to back anarbitration panel's ruling that the Seneca Nation of Indians was wrong to halt annual casino revenue sharing payments to New York State.
Back in January, a panel voted 2 to 1 that the tribe needed to continue making its annual payments on revenues from casinos in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Salamanca, which it agreed to in a 2002 agreement with the state .
The tribe stopped doing so in 2017, arguing the compact only called for 14 years of payments.
ALBANY – An arbitration panel Wednesday ordered the Seneca Nation to pay the state $255 million in lapsed casino revenue-sharing proceeds – though it remained uncertain if the stalemate is actually. In 2002, the Seneca Nation signed a Gaming Compact with the State of New York under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to cooperate in the establishment of three “class III gaming” casino facilities, which included slot machines, table games and other amenities and offerings typical of. NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — An arbitration panel, which previously ruled the Seneca nation has to pay up on lapsed casino payments to the state, has determined the amount to be more than $255 million. Seneca Nation of Indians oversees tribal gambling locations to the likes of Seneca Niagara Falls Resort and Casino, Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, and Seneca Allegany Resort and Casino. Lack of revenue allocations make it hard for the host communities to stay afloat and Niagara Falls recently bagged US$5 million in order to avoid running out of. And last updated 8:32 PM, Nov 08, 2019 BUFFALO, N.Y. District Court judge has ordered the Seneca Nation to pay New York State more than $255 million in casino revenues as part of.
The federal judge Friday said interpreting the compact is not the issue, because the federal court must confirm an arbitration award if it was justly reached, which the court felt it was.
A spokesperson for Governor Andrew Cuomo says, as they've said all along, the Seneca nation needs to fulfill their obligations, make their neighbors and the state whole, and pay what they owe in exchange for their exclusive gaming rights.
That number is estimated to be over $200 million in back payments alone.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said the ruling “confirms the consistent, long-standing belief we have held since the Seneca Nation stopped making payments: that the state and the city are owed this money and the Seneca Nation should pay it.”
Buffalo City Council President Darius Pridgen said he is “excited” by the ruling.
“My hope going forward is that we can continue to have a positive working relationship with the Seneca Nation as a stakeholder and important part of our community.”
In response, Rickey Armstrong Sr., president of the Seneca Nation of Indians, said:
“The Nation has received the decision issued by the Court earlier today.
Our Compact agreement is clear in what it says and in what it does not say. Despite that lack of ambiguity, a majority of an arbitration panel interpreted that a new, unwritten obligation exists for the Seneca Nation. Today’, the Court has affirmed their interpretation.
We understood the reality that the arbitration and court proceedings may not ultimately uphold the language of the Compact as written. Yet, it is our obligation to defend our agreements, so they are not compromised for the benefit of others.
We will take the time to review today's decision and determine how the Nation will proceed.”
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A U.S. District Court judge has ordered the Seneca Nation to pay New York State more than $255 million in casino revenues as part of its 2002 compact with the state.
The court found in favor of an arbitration panel, which ruled in April that the Senecas had not fulfilled their share of the revenue sharing agreement.
Following the panel's ruling, the Seneca Nation requested a federal review. According to the Senecas, the compact only required the Senecas to pay for the first 14 years of the deal.
But Friday's ruling sided with the state, and found the Senecas must pay millions to the host communities, which include Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Salamanca.
'The court confirmed what we've said all along: the Seneca Nation needs to fulfill their obligations, make their neighbors and the state whole, and pay what they owe in exchange for their exclusive gaming rights,' said Rich Azzopardi, senior adviser to Governor Andrew Cuomo. 'It is our hope that they end this charade, stop using the courts to delay, and pay what they owe.'
Seneca Nation of Indians President Rickey Armstrong, Sr. issued the following statement in response to the court decision:
“The Nation has received the decision issued by the Court earlier today.
Our Compact agreement is clear in what it says and in what it does not say. Despite that lack of ambiguity, a majority of an arbitration panel interpreted that a new, unwritten obligation exists for the Seneca Nation. Today, the Court has affirmed their interpretation.
We understood the reality that the arbitration and court proceedings may not ultimately uphold the language of the Compact as written. Yet, it is our obligation to defend our agreements, so they are not compromised for the benefit of others.
We will take the time to review today's decision and determine how the Nation will proceed.”
Seneca Nation Casino Revenue Codes
Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster issued this statement:
“As I have stated since the beginning, we have been confident all along that this matter would be brought to a fair resolution for the host municipalities involved and stand by the decision of the court. I want to thank Governor Cuomo for his steadfast commitment to the City of Niagara Falls throughout the duration of this process. I am hopeful that the Seneca Nation of Indians, in light of the court’s decision, will comply with the ruling in a timely fashion and look forward to the removal of this obstacle in the path of better future relations among the City, State of New York and the Seneca Nation of Indians.”
Seneca Nation Casino Revenue Login
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown issued the following statement:
“Today, the Court ruled in favor of New York State in the ongoing matter with the Seneca Nation of Indians regarding the sharing of revenue from gaming operations in Buffalo and other cities in New York State. This ruling confirms the consistent, long-standing belief we have held since the Seneca Nation stopped making payments: that the State and the City are owed this money and the Seneca Nation should pay it. We hope that today’s ruling ends the Seneca Nation’s attempts to delay payments owed to the State and the City, that we can resume a mutually beneficial working relationship with the Seneca Nation and that the millions of dollars owed to Buffalo and its residents are paid quickly, so that our City’s excellent financial position can no longer be questioned.”