N.Y. governor signs pact with tribe for Catskill casino

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Monday, Nov. 15, 2004 | 9:22 a.m.

BLOOMBERG NEWS

New York Gov. George Pataki and the Seneca-Cayuga Indian tribe of Oklahoma agreed to allow the tribe to build the first of three casinos in the Catskill Mountain region.

The agreement, which would end 25 years of litigation, requires the tribe to relinquish interest in a $279.4 million judgment against the state. A federal judge ruled that New York illegally bought 64,000 acres of land more than 200 years ago and should pay the Oklahoma and New York branches of the tribe.

Pataki and Seneca-Cayuga Chief LeRoy Howard signed the agreement, which must also be approved by the U.S. Congress and state Legislature.

"This agreement between the state and tribe represents the ending of an historic dispute between the state and tribe and the beginning of a new partnership to create jobs and economic growth for the Catskills region," Pataki said in a statement.

In return for relinquishing the claim on the judgment, the state will offer the tribe a compact to build a casino in the Catskills. The agreement would also allow the state to collect local sales and excise taxes on products sold by the tribe.

The Seneca-Cayugas are working to build the casino with Empire Resorts Inc., a Monticello, N.Y.-based company that operates a harness-racing track, the Monticello Raceway.