Senecas Open Temporary Casino After NIGC Ruling

In Buffalo, the Seneca Nation has opened a temporary casino following a National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) ruling that the tribe’s new land falls under one of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s small number of exceptions for opening a gaming facility on newly acquired land. The Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino has just 124 slot machines, but the Senecas plan to build a $125 million casino and entertainment complex that is expected to create 1,000 new jobs.

NIGC Chair Phil Hogan determined that the Senecas bought the nine acres on which the casino is sited as part of the federal Seneca Nation Land Claims Settlement Act.

IGRA generally prohibits gaming on newly acquired lands after October 17, 1988, the date of its passage, but provides several exceptions. One exception allows gaming on newly acquired lands when the land is placed in trust as a settlement of a land claim.

The temporary—and future—casino’s opponents disagree with Chairman Hogan’s interpretation, and have filed suit against the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and the NIGC.

Although this looks to be divisive, you can bet that there will be plenty of folks anteing up at the casino.

See the recent articles in the Buffalo News, here and here.