The Oneida Indian Nation won’t have to pay a penny more, but Madison County, New York, likely will get a larger chunk of the tribe’s casino revenue.
The New York Senate approved a measure giving Madison County 25 percent of slot revenues from the Yellow Brick Road Casino, which will come out of the state’s share of gaming revenues from the Oneida Indian Nation’s casino. The measure must be approved in the New York Assembly and signed by the Governor, before taking effect.
The revenue sharing comes from an agreement with the state that gives the Oneida Nation a casino gaming monopoly in a 10-county area. When the tribe last year opened its Yellow Brick Road Casino in Madison County, local officials lobbied the state for a larger share of casino gaming revenues.
The tribe didn’t want to give up more of its gaming revenues, saying it already was paying plenty to the state. So state lawmakers decided to give the county a larger share of the state’s take from the casino’s operations.
Whether the New York Assembly approves remains to be seen, but strong support in the Senate indicates similar support in the Assembly, and a quick approval by the Governor.
