Time keeps ticking as New York and the Seneca Nation of Indians remain at an impasse over a permanent gaming compact. Now, a new Seneca president will become part of the equation.
New York and the Seneca Nation have attempted to come to terms on a new gaming compact for years, spanning the entire two-year term of its current president Rickey Armstrong, Sr. The tribe’s constitution dictates that presidents may not serve consecutive terms, meaning negotiations will continue through the change in power.
It also means further extensions will occur, and the tribe’s new president will play a significant role in finding agreeable terms moving forward. Presumably, these terms could plan for the future legalization of New York online casinos.
The state and tribe continue to operate on their initial gaming compact, which expired in December and has had multiple quarterly extensions.
Council member, travel plaza owner announces candidacy
Tribal Council Member J.C. Seneca was the first to announce his candidacy earlier this month. Seneca owns the Native Pride Travel Plaza on the Seneca Nation in Irving, just off Exit 58 on the New York State Thruway.
He is also the son of former Seneca Nation president William Seneca (1968-70). He is also the founder of the J.C. Seneca Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting the advancement of healthy living through body, mind and spirit for the Seneca Nation.
“Our people are our greatest asset and we have to utilize that to get through the many challenges we face,” Seneca said.
Other candidates have until Sept. 20 to throw their hats into the ring. The Seneca Party will hold a caucus and nominate its candidate on that date.
Seneca looks to push forward compact negotiations
The Seneca Nation has worked with New York State to agree on a new gaming compact throughout Armstrong’s term. The current compact expired in December 2023, but the two parties have decided to extend it quarterly as long as they continue to work in good faith.
Multiple times this year, news surfaced that both sides were close to a deal. However, Sen. George Borrello said in June that he didn’t see “any real progress” after the governor pulled back on agreed-upon terms at the last minute. Armstrong called the situation “painstaking, frustrating, and disappointing” while facing another temporary extension.
Little has happened since June, with both parties looking ahead to their respective upcoming elections in November. As a result, compact negotiations will continue into the next Seneca president’s term.
However, J.C. Seneca looks forward to taking on that task if he’s elected.
”I think inserting some new energy, some new vision and some new personality can help the situation and push it forward,” Seneca said.
What the Senecas are fighting over
The Seneca Nation and New York State signed their first gaming compact in 2002 under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This allowed the Senecas exclusive rights to establish three resort-style casinos in Western New York.
The current compact dictates the Senecas pay the state 25% of all slot machine revenue to maintain exclusivity in the region. The tribe estimates the tax bill from its three casinos – Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel, Seneca Allegany Casino, and Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino – costs around $100 million annually.
Assemblyman Joseph Giglio addressed the matter in June, expressing support for a new and permanent compact that would benefit both sides. At the same time, Armstrong said the tribe needed a new compact to properly address its “rights and concerns in the context of today’s growing and changing gaming market.”
J.C. Seneca offered a different approach, suggesting the state isn’t providing enough value under the current compact’s terms. He argued that the Seneca Nation should keep 100% of its slot revenue and lose exclusivity, meaning new casinos could compete. The tribe already competes with Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
“No state has the right or authority to receive revenue unless the Indian Nation that’s gaming receives just compensation for it and so in that sense, if we’re not getting what we believe is value from the state, then they don’t get anything,” Seneca said.
