Conflicting Claims Over Revenue Sharing Stall Seneca Nation Gaming Compact Talks

Conflicting statements from the Seneca Nation and New York State have created uncertainty over negotiations for a new gaming compact. Questions remain about whether an agreement has been reached and whether revenue-sharing payments to local governments will continue.

Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca announced that negotiators reached an agreement in principle. The proposed framework excludes a revenue-sharing provision, a departure from the 2002 compact that has governed operations for more than two decades. That agreement expired in December 2023 but continued through quarterly extensions.

Seneca Nation Account of Negotiations

President J. Conrad Seneca said the Nation negotiated a preliminary understanding without revenue sharing after the state declined to provide sought-after protections. “We negotiated an agreement in principle that, right now, contains no revenue sharing provision with New York State,” Seneca said. He added that the agreement is expected to reach the New York State Legislature in the spring.

The Nation maintained that revenue sharing required additional value in return under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Seneca cited Governor Kathy Hochul’s hostility and the state’s refusal to offer anything of value. He stated that the Seneca Nation had advocated to protect funding for Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Salamanca but was told it was not their business.

Risks to Local Funding and Path Forward

A spokesperson for Governor Kathy Hochul disputed claims of a completed deal. “There is currently no agreement and conversations are ongoing with stakeholders,” the spokesperson said. “Any public discussion of specific terms and details is premature.” New York State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt highlighted the conflicting reports and questioned the absence of both exclusivity and payments.

Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino has received no official confirmation. The city receives $10 million to $13 million annually from the arrangement, nearly 10 percent of a budget a little more than $100 million. The loss would create a substantial gap. As reported by World Casino News, any final compact requires approval from both the Seneca Nation’s governing bodies and state lawmakers.

The parties must reconcile their accounts before legislative action. Without agreement on financial terms, host communities face immediate budget pressure while talks remain unresolved.

Reporting: World Casino News

Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.