Cuomo: State To Help City Hurt By No Seneca Casino Payments

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo says New York state will help the city of Niagara Falls plug a multi-million-dollar budget gap amid an ongoing casino revenue dispute with the Seneca Nation of Indians.

The tribe stopped making revenue payments from its three casinos to New York last year after the state approved the expansion of non-Indian-owned, Las Vegas-style casinos in four upstate locations.

Under an agreement made with the state in 2002, the Senecas made revenue payments from its casinos in Buffalo, Salamanca and Niagara Falls. The state then shared part of those proceeds with the host cities.

During an appearance in Buffalo Wednesday, Cuomo said the state will provide $12.3 million to Niagara Falls to help an expected gap in the city's 2019 budget.