Two more Catskills casinos under discussion

 

December 7

Monday in New York, Gov. George Pataki announced the state is negotiating with Indian tribes to construct five Native American casinos in the Catskill Mountains. This is two more casinos than are currently authorized.

Three casinos have been authorized in western New York. The Catskills is considered to be a historic resort community. The area has drawn millions of tourists from all over the country.

Pataki announced that revenues from the would-be Catskills gambling facilities would be used for education, just as it is in many other states. The state is currently involved in a court challenge to improve education funding for New York City schools. Last week, court-appointed referees guesstimated that the cost of agreements over the next 5 years could very well be an additional $23 billion.

About five weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, Pataki and the Legislature endorsed up to six Native American casinos in the state, three in western New York and three in the Catskills. Two of the three western New York casinos have been completed. There is currently an argument going-on regarding the location of the third casino facility.

The proposed Catskills casinos have been delayed due to a dispute between tribes. But, agreements have been concluded between the Governor's administration and Cayuga Indian Nation of New York and the Seneca-Cayuga tribe of Oklahoma for the construction of two casinos to be located in the Monticello area.