New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Seneca Nation of Indians President Rickey L. Armstrong, Sr. met last week in Buffalo and signed an extension of the current gaming compact between New York state and the Seneca Nation of Indians, which was set to expire December 9.
The extension runs through March 31, 2024 and will automatically renew unless one of the parties decides not to renew it or a new gaming compact is agreed upon. The terms of the compact are unchanged from before and both sides will be meeting again in the coming weeks to continue negotiations on a long-term compact.
“Today, I returned to Buffalo to meet with President Armstrong and memorialize an extension of the current gaming compact to ensure the state and Seneca Nation can continue working towards a long-term resolution,” Hochul said in a statement.
“With the signing of this agreement, there is important momentum for negotiations around the compact,” Hochul said in a statement. “I remain committed to working with President Armstrong and the Seneca Nation in finalizing an agreement that is fair to all parties, and I look forward to more conversations in the coming weeks and months as we continue to meet.”
“Over the last several weeks, our discussions with New York state, including face-to-face meetings with Governor Hochul, have centered, in part, on the potential extension of our current compact, especially as the December 9 expiration gets ever closer,” said Armstrong.
“As a result of those discussions between our governments, the Seneca Nation and New York State have agreed to a short-term extension of our current compact. As important, we have agreed to continue negotiations on a new Compact. This short-term extension will provide additional time for our governments to complete compact negotiations and to seek all necessary approvals in accordance with Seneca Nation, New York State, and federal law.
“Under the extension, our three gaming properties will continue to operate without interruption, alleviating any concerns about potential impacts for our thousands of casino employees, which was a priority for the Nation. In our discussions, Governor Hochul has expressed a desire to reset the relationship between our governments. No issue is of greater importance to the economies of Western New York and the Seneca Nation than a fair compact. Tens of thousands of individuals, families and businesses across Western New York are depending on an agreement that secures the significant jobs, business opportunities, and economic benefits the Seneca Nation delivers to the Western New York economy.
“The short-term extension of our compact is an important step, but even more important work remains to be done. The Seneca Nation remains committed to negotiating honestly and directly with New York state on a compact that provides a fair and equitable economic and competitive environment for our gaming operations and the many people who depend on them.”
The two sides had initially announced an agreement in principle for a new compact, but the state House of Representatives refused to vote to authorize Hochul to sign the new agreement, after lawmakers from Monroe County and the officials of the city of Rochester raised concerns about a casino in Rochester authorized in the draft compact.
Hochul had recused herself from those initial negotiations because her husband worked for Seneca rival Delaware North. She agreed to resume negotiations after her husband left that company.
