Monticello, NY – If Empire Resorts wants to continue its efforts to develop a Native American casino at Monticello Gaming and Raceway, it will have to find a new partner. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Saturday conducted a vote of its community members and the majority turned thumbs down on continuing with the off-reservation gaming project.
The vote among its members was 178 “no” and 140 “yes”.
The next step for the tribe would have been to seek the reversal of the so-called Kempthorne Policy, which, under the Bush Administration, prohibited the St. Regis Tribe from building an off-reservation casino in Sullivan County.
Sullivan County Partnership President Timothy McCausland Monday said while he is disappointed that the tribe has decided not to pursue the project, he can respect their process.
“I hope that the folks at the track can identify another partner that can come forward and become part of the tremendous support that the county, the Town of Thompson and us here at the Partnership have for casino gaming,” he said.
(Source: MidHudsonNews)
4 Responses
Baruch Hashem! After many years of them trying, gambling in Jewish areas of the Catskills continue to be thwarted.
I am not disappointed that there won’t be a casino built in Sullivan County. Aren’t there enough places of tumah in the Catskills? Another makom to ban from camp staff?
If they want more commerce and all year long residents, CUT THE TAXES! The taxes have tripled over the last year alone.
looks like we have seen, “the last of the Mohicans.”
If New York wants to open a casino, why not change the state constitution to allow a casino. There is no federal rule that only Indians can own casinos – it is a state rule adopted since most New Yorkers (at the time) opposed legalized gambling.