The Seneca Nation of Indians and the Hochul administration have been negotiating for a downtown Rochester casino. According to sports handicapping experts, they want to include it in a new gaming compact.
However, the proposed casino surprised local leaders in Rochester. Legislators were also preparing to approve a bill allowing the governor’s office to negotiate a new gaming compact with the Senecas. According to sports betting platform providers, the tribe has three casinos within the Buffalo area.
The Senate passed the bill. However, it is stuck in the Assembly. Also, there are concerns from local leaders and neighboring gaming facilities about a new casino in Rochester. Owning a casino is one way how to become a bookie in the state.
Proposed Downtown Rochester Casino
According to Bronson, it was “very unprofessional” for Hochul’s staff to tell him it could not discuss the possibility of a Rochester casino being included in the compact.
The Senecas have long had their sights set on Western New York, namely Rochester and Monroe County. However, it has never been successful, and in 2016, it did not even submit a bid on a vacant piece of land in the middle of the city.
Since the present compact will expire this year, the Senecas have been advocating for a new one, and a statute is needed to allow the governor’s office to approve a new gaming compact. The Assembly finished its session on Saturday but will likely return in the following weeks to take up the matter again.
The Senecas and Hochul’s administration proclaimed an “agreement in principle” on a new compact on Wednesday, but neither side disclosed any details. The tribe requested the Assembly vote on legislation on Saturday to allow the administration to “finalize and submit that agreement as required under federal law,” but their request was denied.
Meanwhile, Governor Hochul has stepped aside from the talks since her husband, Bill, works for Delaware North. This Buffalo-based hospitality corporation runs the Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack in neighboring Farmington, Ontario County.
