News Release
Seneca Nation
The Seneca Nation is calling upon New York State to allow the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) the time required to complete its ongoing review of the Nation’s gaming Compact, while also rejecting the State’s threat to circumvent that review.
Earlier this week, the Nation received a letter from the State’s attorneys demanding that Compact revenue share payments be made by March 16. If the payment is not made, the letter indicates that the State will seek to seize the funds. The letter comes despite the fact that the National Indian Gaming Commission has yet to complete its review of the Compact payments and issue an official report on the matter. Last month, the Seneca Nation Council passed a resolution pausing the payments until the National Indian Gaming Commission review was complete.
“The National Indian Gaming Commission’s review, and the time needed to complete that review, is not a matter that the Seneca Nation can control. We have pressed, and continue to press, the agency for an update. We hope that an official report from National Indian Gaming Commission will come soon,” said Seneca Nation President Matthew Pagels. “Rather than threatening aggressive action, the State should permit the federal agency responsible for overseeing Indian gaming issues the time it needs to complete its work.”
While the Nation awaits National Indian Gaming Commission’s report, President Pagels stated that the Nation is preparing for every circumstance, including further legal action should the State seek to take the funds by Court order.
“Now is not the time for the State to revert to bullying and greed. We thought that chapter had hopefully ended and that a new day had dawned in Albany. We hope we are not wrong,” he said. “We have seen what happens when New York acts like a government intent on eroding, ignoring and obliterating relationships with Native Nations and Native people.”
In the meantime, President Pagels is calling on the State to begin discussions on an amended gaming Compact with the Seneca Nation, citing continual changes, developments and threats to the gaming market.
“The gaming market has changed dramatically in the last 20 years, in terms of what is available to people, and where. Our Compact needs to reflect these changing market dynamics,” he said. “The State is required by federal law to negotiate with the Seneca Nation, and I am calling on the State to begin discussions. Unlike the National Indian Gaming Commission review, that dialogue, which could produce meaningful and needed changes for our gaming business in Western New York and the thousands of people we employ, is completely in the control of the Nation and the State. We need to get started.”
