Niagara Casino Floated

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is considering building a new casino in Niagara Falls that could take a slice out of the Seneca Nation’s gambling empire in the region.

The state’s been mired in a dispute with the tribe over revenue sharing for some time and rumors of a new casino could help renew talks, a member of the Cuomo administration recently told the Buffalo News.

The Seneca Nation has reportedly run up a tab of more than $500 million while refusing to make its payments. The tribe claims the state violated the terms of a 2002 compact.

If discussions remain at a standstill, the administration believes “ending the Indian monopoly would be an economic benefit” to the state, the paper added.

Cuomo’s plan would also include three other non-Indian casinos in upstate New York to help jumpstart the region’s economy. Before the plan could take shape, a state gaming commission would need to assess whether the Seneca compact was in fact breached.

State legislators are scheduled to review a bill that would outline possible host counties for the casinos and develop a process for site selection, the News said.