U.S. agency approves land transfer tied to casino

Monday, Dec. 2, 2002 | 9:43 a.m.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The U.S. Department of the Interior approved a land transfer allowing the Seneca Nation of Indians to open a casino in Niagara Falls by the end of the year, according to a published report.

As expected, the federal agency ruled Friday that a Seneca casino at the Niagara Falls Convention Center will have no adverse environmental impact, the Buffalo News reported Saturday.

The ruling approves the transfer of 12.8 acres of land in downtown Niagara Falls, including the convention center site, to the Senecas.

The casino, set to open on New Year's Eve, is expected to create 2,000 permanent jobs and another 1,400 jobs during its construction.

The state, which has projected casino revenue of up to $825 million, would get up to 25 percent of the gross profits from the slot machines.

The casino is also expected to boost the economy of the Senecas and help tourism and revitalization in downtown Niagara Falls, wrote Neal McCaleb, the assistant secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, who approved the transfer.

Gaming opponents are challenging the casino plan in court, claiming it violates the state constitution's ban on casino gambling.