Two Seneca Casino Sites Have Different Stories

By Sharon Turano

POSTED: August 26, 2008

While one nearby city struggles with lawsuits regarding bringing an Indian-owned casino to its midst, another has reaped millions, seen entertainment, and, most recently drawn water park developers to its boundaries.

Some still argue whether it is worth it, however, leaving the question of which of the two cities with casinos within their bounds is taking the best route.

The Citizens Against Casino Gambling in Erie County are awaiting a decision on their suit against gambling occurring on the Seneca Nation-owned 9-acre Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino site, on which the Senecas plan to spend $333 million to construct a 90,000-square-foot casino with about 2,000 slot machines and 45 table games. A 22-story all-suites hotel with 206 suites along with multiple restaurants and amenities could be featured at the permanent site that expects to offer more than 1,000 jobs. The permanent casino is scheduled to open in 2010.

''It's harmful to the host community,'' said Joel Rose, co-chairman for the Erie County citizens group that is suing the federal government in hopes of seeing closure of the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino's temporary gambling operations and prevent further construction of a permanent gambling facility. He said a poor community, such as Buffalo, ''can ill-afford to have so much money taken out of the host community's (residents' pockets.)''

Rose said something like 7 percent of those who go into a casino, get addicted.

''It ruins lives,'' said Rose. He said money residents spend at a casino is then no longer available for them to spend on other recreational venues a city has to offer, or, even for necessities, he said. Money is taken out of their pockets, he said, for things like pharmaceutical needs, or even paying the mortgage.

Tina Zerbion of Cattaraugus Community Action has said although that agency does not deal specifically with gambling addiction, she said, some who can't pay mortgages or have other needs come to the agency, which offers rent subsidy and other assistance at its Salamanca location. The agencies' clients' need for help in those areas may be compounded, by gambling addictions, she said. Also noticed, said Mrs. Zerbion, is how people were affected by apartment rental prices that went up after the casino came to the area. Increased prices, she said, left those who were once able to afford low rent displaced, as landowners thought they would be able to get more from those moving to the area to work at the casino.

The Seneca's Allegany Casino and Hotel's 220 rooms in Salamanca are usually booked, necessitating the foundation recently being poured for a second hotel tower. Phil Pantano, Seneca Gaming Corp., spokesman said steel for the tower should start going up in the near future, with the tower and its additional 200 rooms expected to open in mid-2009. An entertainment complex has been constructed that has featured numerous bands including the Blues Brothers, Donna Summers, will see the Goo Goo Dolls, Chicago and more come through its doors. Free outdoor concerts have also been featured such as Credence Clearwater Revisited and Aug. 1's Peter Frampton show.

A share of casino revenues is passed onto the state annually (although biannual payments begin this year.) From the payments, local municipalities such as Cattaraugus County, the city of Salamanca and Salamanca City Central School District get 25 percent, which has allowed studies to be done, employees to be hired and used to draw employers to the city and county including the recent announcement of an $82 million water park, expected to come to Salamanca within three years. It is expected to bring 300 full-tme jobs, along with 150 construction workers to the city.

Senecas also benefit from the three casinos they operate in Western New York (a third operates in Niagara Falls). Not only do Senecas receive payments from Nation coffers that have increased since gambling began, but, they are constructing numerous capital improvement projects including the Allegany Reservation's being-constructed health care facility improvements, a new administration building after mold was found at their previous one; new sports complexes are being considered, as are substance abuse treatment facilities. Public works projects like wastewater treatment plants are also being undertaken by the Nation on its lands. The Nation has expanded social services operations including improvements to roads, sewers water supply facilities and low-income and elderly housing, it reports. In 2007, it spent more than $90 million with vendors, suppliers and businesses in Western New York, report Nation officials, who add the tribe alsow works with charities doing such things as giving leftovers from its buffet to a nearby soup kitchen in Salamanca.

The Nation operates a $1.1 billion economy, report Nation officials, who add they employ more than 6,300 people total, both Native American and non-native, report Nation spokespeople. The Nation, its officials report, has paid more than $295 million in shared gaming revenues to the state and local municipalities that host its casinos.

In the mean time, one community remains at odds while another gets ready to plunge into development with a new water park.