Catskill Indian gaming dream alive

Seneca Nation announces plans in Thompson

By FRITZ MAYER

SALAMANCA, NY — Despite the fact that just about all players and interested parties consider Indian casinos in Sullivan County a moot point, one tribe is pressing ahead with plans for a huge gaming resort in the Town of Thompson.

Barry Snyder Sr., president of the Seneca Nation of Indians, announced on January 2 that his tribe has an agreement with a company called Rotate Black Gaming, Inc. to develop and manage the first major casino in the Catskills.

Snyder said, “The nation views development of a Catskills casino with the state as yet another example of ‘win-win’ economic development, like the nation’s existing Class III facilities, which have generated more than 4,000 jobs and $300 million in direct payments to the state.”

The tribe, which owns gaming facilities in Irving and Salamanco and is currently involved in legal wrangling regarding a facility in Buffalo, said the facility could generate $160 million a year in new state revenues.

Rotate Black has acquired 63 acres of land near exit 107 on Route 17. The land is due to be turned over to the tribe for the development of the casino, which is projected to include a hotel, pool, restaurants and other amenities.

But the tribe has quite a few obstacles to surmount before the roulette wheels start spinning. Foremost among them is the fact that U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne has effectively nixed all new off-reservation casinos.

One report indicates that the tribe is anticipating a change in policy when new interior secretary designate Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado takes over the reins of the department. Salazar has spoken of bringing change, but has not publicly indicated that he would alter the off-reservation gaming policy. Nor is it certain that this could easily be accomplished if he so desired.

A couple of other hurdles: the tribe has not notified Governor David Paterson of their intentions, officials of Sullivan County or the Town of Thompson.

Moreover, with many local officials now publicly backing developer Louis Capelli’s plans for an expanded racino and race track at the former Concord Hotel, and with many of the same officials also backing a call for a state constitutional amendment that would allow up to three non-Indian casinos to operate in the Catskills, it is not clear how much support the Seneca proposal will draw going forward.