Seneca Indians To Build Mega Casino Complex in Buffalo

As of now, the Seneca Indians are operating a temporary casino in Buffalo that currently has $6 million invested in the building and running of the casino, but that is pocket change compared to their next endeavor.

The Seneca Nation of Indians have decided that they will move ahead with plans to build a $333 million casino and hotel complex in the Cobblestone District in Buffalo.

The complex will feature a hotel that will be 22 stories high and a 2,500 vehicle parking garage, and will occupy the Indian Tribes land on Michigan Avenue.

Although the hotel and garage are going to be state of the art, it is, of course, the 90,000 square foot casino that will be the center of attraction once the facility is complete.

There is opposition to the casino as there are currently lawsuits going through the court system that are trying to block gambling from ever taking place in the casino.

Joel S. Ross, co chairman of Citizens Against Casino Gambling in Erie County, stated, "The Seneca Nation of Indians can, of course, build whatever it wishes on property that it owns. But there is ongoing litigation in federal court, that if successful, would preclude any gambling operations on the Buffalo property."

The Indians are currently running their temporary casino because they are not specifically named in any of the lawsuits, and they believe that their investment will pay off regardless of any pending legal trouble.



2007-10-03