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Today's Poll: Should the Senecas be allowed to build a casino in Henrietta?

By Howard B. Owens
bud prevost

I vote yes, but with reservations. Since Cuomo sold out WNY by giving exclusive rights to the Native Americans for everything west of SR14, I'm left with no other choice. Since I do wish for a closer option than Niagara Falls, I hope that one is built in Henrietta, or better yet, at Irondequoit Mall, which could use the economic boost for the Ridge Rd corridor.
The governor sacrificed the west to appease the desire of many downstaters to have casinos along the Hudson, just north of NYC. Thanks. Also kind of crappy how he allowed our government run gaming centers to stay perpetual lottery terminals, with no chance of real action. Batavia, Finger Lakes and Buffalo Raceway all got hosed by their boss. Thanks. Once a real casino is built in or around Monroe County, Batavia and Finger Lakes will see a significant drop in their market share. Thanks.
BTW, how's the government consolidating going, Governor? It's not? Really? Well, thanks for following through on that campaign promise, aka a bold face lie to get elected.

Sep 16, 2013, 10:38am Permalink
Mark Potwora

Yes if it is on Indian property...No if it is private property ..If the Indians can build a casino ,then a private person should be able to also ,with no interference from the government..The state should not be owning casino's either...As in the case of Batavia Downs...

Sep 16, 2013, 11:06am Permalink
Billie Owens

I think the Senecas, like other Native American nations throughout America, should be able to build a big fabulous casino on their own land. Everyone knows about Foxwood, in SoCal there's Barona, Chumash, Sycuan and Viejas, among others. The ones in San Diego contribute to the symphony, the arts, sponsor festivals, have their name on the Sports "Aroma" and upgraded the infrastructure leading into their facilities, benefiting the surrounding property owners, the list goes on.

Sep 16, 2013, 12:22pm Permalink
terry paine

As long as the property was acquired through a mutually beneficial exchange between all parties involved. Unlike the state's method of coercion and threat of violence to acquire property.

Sep 16, 2013, 12:35pm Permalink
John Stone

Seeing as how New York has decided that "gaming" is OK here, somebody needs to build a REAL casino. If you are going to do something, decide to do it right, or just don't do it.
I went to the Batavia Downs 'casino' for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and was quite disappointed. (Growing up in Reno, Nevada, with a best friend named John Adam Harrah, I know what a REAL casino is, and the Downs is NOT it!)

(Oh, and for all of you that want to pronounce Nevada as if it's spelled "Nevahda", please try to do it right... Both of the a's are SHORT, as in apple... It only takes a minimal amount of intelligence to do so, so PLEASE do it RIGHT!!!!)

Sep 16, 2013, 12:48pm Permalink
Raymond Richardson

Bud, you should check your facts before attacking Cuomo.

The exclusivity rights of casino operations in NYS was part of the Gaming Compact of 2002 under the Pataki administration.

Sep 17, 2013, 9:07am Permalink
bud prevost

Raymond, I know Pataki sold us out as well. His administration obviously had no problem discriminating against other groups. If this pact is valid, then we would not be discussing another casino. That pact allowed 3(three) vegas style casinos. So they now have 3. Should they be allowed to build another one or two?
BTW, I am not a Republican or a Democrat. And I will say, I voted for Cuomo because he said what I wanted to hear. Apparently, he spoke with forked tongue. No more votes from this household.
If Steve Wynn wanted to come here and open multiple casinos, he should be allowed. Why should one group enjoy preferential treatment over others?

Sep 17, 2013, 10:16am Permalink
Ryan Hasenauer

Full Disclosure, I am the Director of Marketing at Batavia Downs Gaming. I won't venture to put in an opinion here, but I wanted to clear up a few things a from reading the comments above.

Mark - The state does not run Batavia Downs. It regulates it. The Nevada Gaming Commission does not own Harrah's and the New York Gaming Commission does not own BDG. We are owned by Western Regional Off-Track Betting, a public benefit corporation. Our revenues, net expenses go out to the counties and cities of WNY. The people here are employed by WROTB.

John - You are correct, we are not a real casino. Mr. Cuomo made sure a few months back we can't even use the term (nor 'slots' for that matter). If we were allowed to have table games, a sports book or many of the other things you are used to seeing in Nevada, I can assure you what we have at our facility would be a lot different. As is, I still think that for a "Gaming Machines" only facility what we have is nice, and a lot nicer than what we had upstairs before our recent renovation. People that know what we used to have upstairs compared to what we have downstairs can probably attest to the difference. Just my opinion.

Jan 2, 2014, 4:31pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Potato potado, tomato tomado, Nevada, hell..... Its never pronounced wrong just differently.

Oh I forgot one my wife loves to pick on me for.. Cor-fu, Cor-fyou LOL

Jan 2, 2014, 5:45pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Bud. "Apparently, he spoke with forked tongue."

I wish you had said that 3 days ago. That would have made it the best comedic sentence of 2013.

Now, we gotta wait 363 more days to see if it can trump all contenders to come. That's a lotta pressure, to be sure, but I'm giving it my vote for 'this' year.

Thanks for the laugh!

Jan 2, 2014, 10:53pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

Ed: he did. This is an old thread, Bud's comment was made on Sept 17, 2013.

And you're right, that is a good one. The best jokes have a ring of truth to them.

Jan 3, 2014, 7:41am Permalink
Dave Olsen

Bea; I know you'll relate to this after living in Chester Co Pa. When I first moved to MD I had to deliver a truck to a customer, I called to get directions and the secretary told me that I take route 13 south in Delaware (pronounced Delwurr) cross into Maryland (Merlind) and pass through Berlin ( burrlynn, emphasis on the 1st syllable) I'm looking at the map and I go "I don't see Burr-lynn on here" she says "I's the first town across the border" I'm scratching my head and finally the light comes on I said "Do you mean berlin?" She was very indignant. LOL During my 10 years down there, I never picked up the accent and was routinely confused. I drove around west Baltimore for about 2 hours once (Very very very bad area) looking for the Driddle Park and no way in hell was I going to stop and ask directions, before I came to realize I was supposed to be looking for Druid Hill Park. This was obviously before GPS's became common. There are many more, but those have stuck with me. Oh yeah, my daughter lives in Newark, DE. If you ever want to rile up a Delawarean say "Newark" they will inevitably inform you very indignantly that "Newark" is in New Jersey, here it is "New-ARK" emphasis on 2nd syllable. Had a lot of fun with that for a couple of years, until I got bored with it.

Jan 3, 2014, 7:58am Permalink

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