Tribal Gaming

Seneca Nation Claims Gaming Compact ‘Negotiated in Principle’ With ‘Hostile’ Gov. Kathy Hochul

Posted on: October 5, 2026, 09:28h.

Last updated on: October 6, 2026, 09:55h.

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Devin O'Connor Devin O'Connor is a senior reporter for Casino.org, covering politics, casino business, and gaming news. Devin came on board with Casino.org in 2014...
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Key Points

The Seneca Nation claims it has reached a Class III gaming compact agreement "in principle" with New York following more than three years of stalled negotiations
Seneca Nation President J.C. Seneca states the proposed agreement would eliminate the tribe’s 25% casino revenue-sharing requirement
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office has pushed back on the announcement, stating no compact has been agreed upon and formal discussions continue

The Seneca Nation has been at odds with New York officials since the state authorized video lottery terminals (VLTs)—slot-like machines the tribe argues violated its exclusive Class III gaming compact.

Seneca Nation compact New York Hochul — The office of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing back on claims from the Seneca Nation that a new Class III gaming compact with the tribe has been reached. Seneca leaders say the governor has been “hostile” in ongoing negotiations. (Image: Shutterstock)

The Seneca compact, which expired in December 2023, required the tribe to direct 25% of its gross gaming revenue (GGR) from its slot machines to the state. In exchange, the Senecas were to have the exclusive rights to gambling games in Upstate New York west of State Route 14.

Since the compact expired, the Senecas have sent 25% of their slot win to an escrow account. Negotiations with the state have been fruitless, with a June 2023 deal that included allowing the Senecas to open a casino in Rochester failing after local government officials and lawmakers representing the city pushed back on the backroom deal the Senecas and Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) struck.

While we have engaged in productive discussions with the Seneca Nation, we were unable to reach a final agreement, and the Assembly did not pass the authorizing legislation. We look forward to continuing to work toward an agreement that works for all parties,” Hochul said at the time.

More than three years later, no new deal has been reached. On Oct. 2, Seneca Nation President J.C. Seneca proclaimed that a compact had been “negotiated in principle.”

‘Hostile’ Hochul

President Seneca made the surprise announcement that new compact terms had been reached. The tribal leader claimed the proposed agreement eliminates the tribe’s revenue-sharing obligations and will be submitted for legislative approval once the New York State Legislature convenes next spring.

A spokesperson for Hochul quickly pushed back, stating that while the governor remains in “productive discussions” with the Seneca Nation, she has not agreed to a new compact.

The Seneca Nation was willing to discuss a fair revenue share agreement as a part of a new compact, but New York was unwilling to provide us any market protections or opportunities to grow and generate more revenue for us and for the local community. Instead, Governor Hochul just wanted to keep taking advantage of the Seneca Nation and taking money the state isn’t entitled to,” said President Seneca.

“Because of Governor Hochul’s continued hostility toward the Seneca Nation and her team’s unwillingness to provide us anything of value in return for a revenue share provision, we negotiated an agreement in principle with no revenue share agreement,” President Seneca said.

Tribal Encroachment

Three state-regulated VLT casinos currently operate within the Seneca Nation’s exclusivity zone: Hamburg Gaming, Batavia Downs Gaming, and Finger Lakes Gaming.

Combined, those three commercial facilities host nearly 3,000 gaming terminals. In August, the properties reported combined VLT revenue of $27.4 million.