JC Seneca, the newly inaugurated president of the Seneca Nation, is making his intentions clear as he embarks on negotiations for a renewed Class III gaming compact with the State of New York. Seneca, who took office earlier today to lead the historically significant tribe in Upstate New York, has expressed a blunt stance on what he aims to achieve.
The Seneca Nation’s existing Class III gaming compact, which expired on December 9, 2023, permits the tribe to run Las Vegas-style slot machines, live dealer table games, and sports betting at three of its resorts. Under the revenue-sharing stipulations, the tribe is obligated to contribute 25% of its gross slot revenue from the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino, and Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino to the state.
Since the compact’s expiration, both the tribe and the state have agreed to extend its terms on a quarterly basis, with the resulting tax revenue being held in an escrow account pending the outcome of ongoing negotiations.
Securing nearly 90% of the tribal vote just a week ago, Seneca is considered one of the tribe’s most beloved members. A veteran tribal leader and council member, his campaign was driven by the goals of negotiating a more favorable gaming compact, fortifying the tribe’s economic independence, and addressing challenges related to increased alcohol consumption and drug addiction within the community.
Seneca’s primary task will likely be handling the compact renegotiations. In a recent interview with Spectrum News, he vocalized his firm stance on the matter. “I’m a 0% guy,” Seneca declared. “I don’t think the state deserves any revenue from our nation.”
The tribe argues that New York has historically failed to uphold its end of the compact agreement, pointing to the state’s authorization of upstate casinos east of State Route 14 in 2013 and the continued expansion of video lottery gaming at racinos across the state.
Seneca has committed to consulting with tribal officials and the Seneca Nation before resuming negotiations with Governor Kathy Hochul.
Back in June 2023, the Senecas, then led by President Rickey Armstrong, announced a 20-year gaming compact with Hochul’s administration. However, the state Assembly ultimately refused to ratify the agreement after discovering it would permit the tribe to open a fourth resort casino in Rochester, an Upstate New York city. Rochester officials and state lawmakers accused the state of keeping them uninformed about the potential casino development, and there was also ambiguity around whether the 25% slot revenue allocation would be reduced.
Armstrong placed the blame squarely on Hochul and her team for the lack of transparency. “The blame for keeping Rochester officials out of the loop lays directly at the feet of the executive,” Armstrong commented. “The Nation regularly consulted our own legislative branch, and expected that the executive was doing the same.”
Hochul had previously recused herself from the 2023 negotiations due to her husband’s employment with Delaware North, a direct competitor of the Seneca Nation. However, she was allowed to rejoin the talks after her husband, William Hochul, a former U.S. attorney for New York’s Western District Court and Delaware North’s senior vice president and general counsel, resigned from his position in August 2023.
