What's up with casinos in the Catskills? Are they for real? When will they get here? Why do Indians have to run them?
And what about VLTs at Monticello Raceway? Do they come with mayo – or do they have something to do with slot machines? We hear these questions every day. We even have a folder on the office wall called an "Idiot's Guide to a Catskills Casino."
But, hey, you don't have to be an idiot to ask questions about casinos. After all, we've been talking about these things for decades and we still don't have any concrete answers. But now, with the Mohawks expected to sign a deal with the state as soon as tomorrow, the odds seem better than ever for those casinos.
That's why it's time to present the everything you need to know and aren't afraid to ask "Idiot's Guide to Casinos in the Catskills."
Why casinos in the Catskills?
Why else? Money. After Sept. 11, New York State needed money. The Legislature and Gov. Pataki passed a law allowing six Indian casinos in the state – three in western New York and three in Sullivan and/or Ulster counties.
Since the Catskills were once home to hundreds of resorts, lawmakers figured casinos could pump money into a struggling area that would be the closest casino market to New York City. Three casinos could bring the state some $500 million per year.
Who are the players?
The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans and Mohegan Sun developer Trading Cove Associates want to build a casino in Bridgeville, off Route 17's Exit 107. Trading Cove is partially owned by Kerzner International, which owns several casinos, including Sun International in South Africa, Atlantis Paradise in the Bahamas and Resorts International in Atlantic City.
The Cayuga Nation and Empire Resorts want to build a casino at Monticello Raceway. The Modoc tribe of Oklahoma wants to build a casino outside Ellenville. The Oneida Nation of New York wants a casino in the Catskills, but hasn't picked a spot.
Why Indian casinos?
Casino gambling for profit is unconstitutional in New York. But federal law allows Indian casinos in states with nonprofit casino gambling, like casino nights in a firehouse.
A lawsuit challenging Indian casinos in New York says the federal government can't give a state power it doesn't have under its own constitution.
What's taking so long?
The Indian casinos in the Catskills will be built on non-Indian land. But casinos can only operate on sovereign Indian land. So the tribe must apply to the federal government to make the land Indian. At the overworked and understaffed Bureau of Indian Affairs, reviewing thousands of application pages takes years.
What's taking so long, Part 2
Tribes must also cut deals called compacts with New York State that outline things like the state's cut of the deal. The tentative agreement for the Mohawk compact also settles the tribe's multimillion-dollar land claim. It's the blueprint for other tribes' land claims. You know how long it takes the state to complete its budget? Multiply that by years.
What's taking so long, Part 3
The Bureau of Indian Affairs must also review contracts between casino managers like Park Place and tribes like the Mohawks. The BIA also conducts extensive investigations into the conduct of the managers.
What about that lawsuit?
It challenges the law that allows Indian casinos in New York State. The suit says the law is unconstitutional.
When will it be settled?
A decision could be issued within weeks. Appeals could take months.
And what if the court rules the casinos are unconstitutional?
The pro-casino forces will spend more millions to try to redo the law to make casinos constitutional.
What's all the local talk about $15 million or $5 million?
Since the casinos will be built on sovereign Indian land, they won't pay taxes. But they will have an impact on things like traffic, crime and schools. The Mohawks and Stockbridge-Munsee have said they'll pay Sullivan County $15 million per year for the impact.
The Cayuga Nation wants to stick with the $5 million Monticello Raceway agreed to pay Monticello for a Mohawk casino that never opened at the track.
What's up with VLTs at Monticello Raceway?
The same law that allows casinos in the Catskills allows harness tracks to run video lottery terminals – actually slot machines connected to the state lottery system. But track owners said the law didn't give them a big enough piece of the profits.
The cash-hungry state just upped the track's slice of the pie in the budget, which the governor must approve. Track owners hope slots could be installed within a year. They don't need federal approval. They won't be run by Indians. But a lawsuit challenges the law that allows them.
So when will casinos come to the Catskills?
The best guess is not for a few years. Let's take the front-runner, the St. Regis Mohawks at Kutsher's. Federal approval could come within a few months. The state lawsuit could be settled in the fall. More lawsuits challenging the environmental impact of the casinos could last into 2004. That makes 2005 sound reasonable.
http://www.gamblingmagazine.com/managearticle.asp?c=380&a=2011
And what about VLTs at Monticello Raceway? Do they come with mayo – or do they have something to do with slot machines? We hear these questions every day. We even have a folder on the office wall called an "Idiot's Guide to a Catskills Casino."
But, hey, you don't have to be an idiot to ask questions about casinos. After all, we've been talking about these things for decades and we still don't have any concrete answers. But now, with the Mohawks expected to sign a deal with the state as soon as tomorrow, the odds seem better than ever for those casinos.
That's why it's time to present the everything you need to know and aren't afraid to ask "Idiot's Guide to Casinos in the Catskills."
Why casinos in the Catskills?
Why else? Money. After Sept. 11, New York State needed money. The Legislature and Gov. Pataki passed a law allowing six Indian casinos in the state – three in western New York and three in Sullivan and/or Ulster counties.
Since the Catskills were once home to hundreds of resorts, lawmakers figured casinos could pump money into a struggling area that would be the closest casino market to New York City. Three casinos could bring the state some $500 million per year.
Who are the players?
The Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans and Mohegan Sun developer Trading Cove Associates want to build a casino in Bridgeville, off Route 17's Exit 107. Trading Cove is partially owned by Kerzner International, which owns several casinos, including Sun International in South Africa, Atlantis Paradise in the Bahamas and Resorts International in Atlantic City.
The Cayuga Nation and Empire Resorts want to build a casino at Monticello Raceway. The Modoc tribe of Oklahoma wants to build a casino outside Ellenville. The Oneida Nation of New York wants a casino in the Catskills, but hasn't picked a spot.
Why Indian casinos?
Casino gambling for profit is unconstitutional in New York. But federal law allows Indian casinos in states with nonprofit casino gambling, like casino nights in a firehouse.
A lawsuit challenging Indian casinos in New York says the federal government can't give a state power it doesn't have under its own constitution.
What's taking so long?
The Indian casinos in the Catskills will be built on non-Indian land. But casinos can only operate on sovereign Indian land. So the tribe must apply to the federal government to make the land Indian. At the overworked and understaffed Bureau of Indian Affairs, reviewing thousands of application pages takes years.
What's taking so long, Part 2
Tribes must also cut deals called compacts with New York State that outline things like the state's cut of the deal. The tentative agreement for the Mohawk compact also settles the tribe's multimillion-dollar land claim. It's the blueprint for other tribes' land claims. You know how long it takes the state to complete its budget? Multiply that by years.
What's taking so long, Part 3
The Bureau of Indian Affairs must also review contracts between casino managers like Park Place and tribes like the Mohawks. The BIA also conducts extensive investigations into the conduct of the managers.
What about that lawsuit?
It challenges the law that allows Indian casinos in New York State. The suit says the law is unconstitutional.
When will it be settled?
A decision could be issued within weeks. Appeals could take months.
And what if the court rules the casinos are unconstitutional?
The pro-casino forces will spend more millions to try to redo the law to make casinos constitutional.
What's all the local talk about $15 million or $5 million?
Since the casinos will be built on sovereign Indian land, they won't pay taxes. But they will have an impact on things like traffic, crime and schools. The Mohawks and Stockbridge-Munsee have said they'll pay Sullivan County $15 million per year for the impact.
The Cayuga Nation wants to stick with the $5 million Monticello Raceway agreed to pay Monticello for a Mohawk casino that never opened at the track.
What's up with VLTs at Monticello Raceway?
The same law that allows casinos in the Catskills allows harness tracks to run video lottery terminals – actually slot machines connected to the state lottery system. But track owners said the law didn't give them a big enough piece of the profits.
The cash-hungry state just upped the track's slice of the pie in the budget, which the governor must approve. Track owners hope slots could be installed within a year. They don't need federal approval. They won't be run by Indians. But a lawsuit challenges the law that allows them.
So when will casinos come to the Catskills?
The best guess is not for a few years. Let's take the front-runner, the St. Regis Mohawks at Kutsher's. Federal approval could come within a few months. The state lawsuit could be settled in the fall. More lawsuits challenging the environmental impact of the casinos could last into 2004. That makes 2005 sound reasonable.
http://www.gamblingmagazine.com/managearticle.asp?c=380&a=2011
