A Casino is ok for NYC but not for Buffalo?

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

Shocked this did not make the board.

Now I understand there are several arguments against the Seneca casino. Some say it is just about gambling in NYS. Some say it is the tax issues around the Senecas operating on "sovereign" land.

One has to wonder what this announcement for a casino in Queens will do for the Buffalo Creek Casino......

It was reported in the Buffalo News, that the Citizens Against Casino Gambling in Erie County and Citizens for a Better Buffalo want the current casino in Buffalo shut down NOW, because Skretny issued a judgement that the operation was illegal.

So how is a video gaming facility in Buffalo illegal but a video gaming facility in Queens legal? The complex in Queens is going to be nothing more than a larger version of what exists TODAY in Buffalo. The goal for the Buffalo Creek is to have table games but those are plans.

Just makes you scratch your head.....

[OneEmerald]

Could it be because the one in Buffalo is owned and operated by American Indians and the one in Queens is by a private developer?

[CacTus]

First of all, I am embarassed that the Wendt Foundation would use funds which were not intended for Legal Fees for a select group of people who think gambling is going to cause mass destruction in Buffalo. Let's look at reality. We have OTB, the Raceway in Batavia and Hamburg (with slot machines) the NYS lottery, Bingo, Monte Carlo nightsand Quick Draw. What is the difference if the Indians build a Casino, 5 star hotel, a real DRAW to downtown Buffalo, not just by the residents of WNY but this is on the way to Niagara Falls. Certainly if I had the chance to stay in Buffalo as a stopping off point before I went to the "Disneyland" in Niagara Falls Ontario, I would stop here. The Indians are taking property in a rust belt part of the City and improving it plus the City and State get a portion of the gambling. Better than making another park and taking it off the tax rolls......What gives the Wendt Foundation the right to pay for the legal bill for the group who opposes gambling on the basis they are "protecting" people from the "ills" of gambling. Take away Quick Draw, the Raceway, OTB and the lottery if you won't let the Casino be built. You can't pick and choose. Who does the group opposing the Casino think they are making a decision for anyone but themselves.

[joe d.]

NOTHING WRONG WITH CASINO GAMBLING IN BUFFALO...IF IT'S OPERATED AND OWNED BY PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, PROFITS TAXED SO THAT IT'S AN ASSET TO THE CITIZENS...LOOK WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR A DESERT WITH NO WATERFRONT.....AND NIAGARA FALLS , ONT. BUT FOR THE OPERATIONS & PROFIT TO GO TO A SOVEREIGN NATION.???.WHERE WE HAVE LITTLE TO REEP..HELL !!MAY AS WELL LET THE IRAQUI'S OPEN ONE UP HERE TOO!

[leftWNYbecauseofBS]

Could it be because the one in Buffalo is owned and operated by American Indians and the one in Queens is by a private developer?

It could be but does that mean if the Seneca Nation agrees to make the Buffalo Creek Casino a full tax paying member of the community, the Wendt Foundation is going to back off?

I personally think the Wendt Foundation does not want the casino because of the shift in power and their arrogance in thinking poor people are too dumb to think for themselves. Their supporters claim that casinos are against the law and they are bad for the economy.

So if there is a casino in Queens that is NOT against the law, how can the current operation which is running just slots and video machines and is smaller than the intended project in Queens be illegal? Gambling is gambling...regardless of the taxation.

What I am getting at is a HOPE there is a best case scenario for Buffalo that comes out of this. That being...

The Seneca Nation agrees to put Buffalo Creek on the books but gets the exclusive rights to the casino business in Buffalo. They keep the other two casinos off the tax rolls so to speak.

The casino and hotel is built and the taxpayers see a much larger take of all revenue. Both NYS and WNY see a much larger take of the operations. And everyone goes home with something.

[OneEmerald]

It could be but does that mean if the Seneca Nation agrees to make the Buffalo Creek Casino a full tax paying member of the community, the Wendt Foundation is going to back off?

I personally think the Wendt Foundation does not want the casino because of the shift in power and their arrogance in thinking poor people are too dumb to think for themselves. Their supporters claim that casinos are against the law and they are bad for the economy.

So if there is a casino in Queens that is NOT against the law, how can the current operation which is running just slots and video machines and is smaller than the intended project in Queens be illegal? Gambling is gambling...regardless of the taxation.

What I am getting at is a HOPE there is a best case scenario for Buffalo that comes out of this. That being...

The Seneca Nation agrees to put Buffalo Creek on the books but gets the exclusive rights to the casino business in Buffalo. They keep the other two casinos off the tax rolls so to speak.

The casino and hotel is built and the taxpayers see a much larger take of all revenue. Both NYS and WNY see a much larger take of the operations. And everyone goes home with something.

I totally agree with you. And, I just remembered, there were no complaints (that I remember) when they opened up that place with video slots at the Buffalo race track on the Erie County Fairgrounds.