The Senecas sent out a thank you to Governor Paterson today, thanking him and the State of New York for corroborating their interpretation of the court ruling that would disallow their operations of the casino on Michigan and Perry in the city.
The state announced Saturday that they would continue normal inspections at the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, even though a federal court ruled last week that gambling is not permitted there.
From the Seneca statement: “The Nation thanks Gov. Paterson and the lawyers of the state wagering board for their support of the Nation’s interpretation of the federal court ruling. The court’s decision included no order to cease casino operations so the Nation is, in fact, meeting the requirements of that decision,” said Maurice A. John Sr., president. “As we have said from the beginning, the Nation respects the court’s ruling, is particularly grateful that the court found the property to be sovereign Nation land, and has always adhered to all relevant federal and state government rulings in this case.”
The state, on the other hand, has much to gain by championing the casino. John had said at last week's press conference that the Senecas had recently sent a check to the state in the amount of $57.4 million. This reflects the Nation's percentage of slot machine revenue under the 2002 compact with the state. Based on gross revenues, the money will be returned to Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Salamanca, the three cities that are home to Seneca casinos.
Factoring in a December 2007 payment of $83.4 million for operations in 2006, and $52.3 million for the first six months of operation in 2007, the Nation has paid the state and various municipalities under the compact a total of $352.4 million since 2002.
Citing a similar case as a precedent, the Seneca's statement pointed out the fact that, "A judge declared the Oneida Nation’s Turning Stone casino operated illegally, and the state’s response was identical for the central New York facility, allowing them to continue gambling operations while that case is appealed." The land on which Turning Stone exists is is not designated as Indian land.