Industry News
New Coalition Forms to Weigh in on Seneca Gaming Compact Negotiations
Existing non-native casinos and racinos in the Finger Lakes and Western New York and unions representing their employees are formally launching a coalition to have a voice in the ongoing negotiations for a new gaming compact between the state and the Seneca Nation of Indians.
The Fair Compact for All Coalition includes representatives from del Lago Resort and Casino, Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack, Hamburg Gaming and Batavia Downs. They want to ensure any new Seneca gaming compact protects the future of their operations and the communities they say have come to depend on their success.
The coalition says those facilities employ more than 3500 New Yorkers, the majority of whom are union members, and pay close to $180 million in annual state gaming taxes. Rochester Workers United and Horsemenâs Benevolent Protective Association are also part of the effort.
âWe cannot and will not tolerate any middle-of-the-night deals that lack transparency, public input and data-driven economic analysis. We welcome competition, but we canât compete without a level playing field. We look forward to working with our coalition members, local elected officials and representatives in Albany to secure a truly fair compact for all,â Finger Lakes Gaming President and General Manager Chris Riegle said.
The current gaming compact expires on December 9. The Senecas said their three casinos in Western New York and the Southern Tier account for thousands of local jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars in local wages and more than $1 billion in annual economic impact to the region.
They said the coalition represents competing gaming interests inserting themselves into government-to-government negotiations.
âIn reality, the changes to the New York gaming market, and their continued impact on the promises made to the Seneca Nation under our compact, are central to our discussions with New York state. Although it has been nearly 60 days since our last negotiation meeting, we look forward to the state re-engaging in discussions soon, and hold optimism that important progress can be made,â Seneca President Rickey Armstrong Sr. said.
The Nation and the state in June had reached a deal in principle. However, after details leaked it included stipulations that would allow the Senecas to pursue a new operation in Monroe County, lawmakers, community members and representatives of what is now the coalition pushed back.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, eventually decided not to bring authorization of the deal up for a vote, essentially forcing parties back to the negotiating table.
Any agreement requires approval of the state, a referendum vote of Seneca Nation members and federal approval. Gov. Kathy Hochul previously had assigned two of her top aides to serve as lead negotiators since her husband worked for Delaware North, which is also a member of the Fair Compact for All coalition. However, she changed her recusal policy when he stepped down nearly two months ago, which would allow her now to be more directly involved.
Industry News
Navajo Gaming Honors 186 Team Members for Employee Milestones
This month The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise (Navajo Gaming) honored 186 of its total 1200 team members for reaching significant employment milestones including 15, 10, and 5 years of service for the enterprise. The event at Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort in Flagstaff, Ariz. showcased the impact and journey of each hard-working team member, with a special highlight for 29 employees who have served for 15 years.
Less than 10 years after Navajo Gaming was created by the Navajo Nation and charged with the mission of creating jobs, increasing revenues, and stimulating incremental economic development within the Navajo Nation, the gaming enterprise created over 7425 direct, indirect and induced jobs with an overall economic output of over a billion dollars.
âNavajo Gaming employs 1200 people, 85 percent of whom are Navajo citizens. The award-winning AAAâs coveted Four Diamond Twin Arrows Casino Resort shares Navajo Culture through architectural nuances and local artists. Each of the property dining eateries feature âNavajo Beef,â and traditional cuisine of the Navajo people, and our invitation to stay, play and relax at one of our four properties or Travel Center is an open welcome to the Navajo Nationâs beautiful scenic transformation,â Matthew Shunkamolah, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Navajo Gaming, said.
Team members recognized for 15 years of services have worked their way up to a wide variety of position within the enterprise from General Manager and Executive Director of Slots, to Director of Security, Food and Beverage Supervisor and Executive Director of Government Affairs.
Industry News
The International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) Announces 2024 International Gaming Summit in Washington, D.C.
The International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA) will hold its 41st International Gaming Summit Monday, May 27 through Thursday, May 30, 2024 at The Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C.
As a premier event that brings together leaders from all global gaming sectors, the Summit will provide operators, suppliers, attorneys, investors, bankers, regulators and other advisor delegates with an unparalleled opportunity to meet and discuss the most important issues facing gaming.
âWe are looking forward to holding this yearâs 41st Annual International Gaming Summit in Washington, D.C., and are pleased to announce an agenda that includes a specific focus on some of the key sports betting issues the rapidly expanding US market is facing. As part of this focus, we will bring together representatives from global sports betting operators, regulatory agencies, professional sports leagues and other experts to discuss how the industryâs sports betting stakeholders can better work together to ensure a sustainable, responsible sports betting environment that is built on best practices lessons learned from other markets,â John Stawyskyj, President of IAGA, said.
âBeyond our sports betting focus, our diverse agenda includes discussions on other issues of importance including the growing impact of fraud and cyber breaches on regulated operators, a look into the federal and state lobbying process, an update on whatâs happening in other gaming markets outside North America, a deep dive into new technologies and how they might impact gaming and more. I look forward to welcoming our delegates to Washington and participating with them in lively discussions about these critical issues and more,â Stawyskyj added.
Industry News
Marker Trax Appoints John Henderson as Senior Vice President of Operations
Marker Trax, a leader in cashless payment solutions for the gambling industry, has announced the appointment of John Henderson as its senior vice president of operations.
As the company continues solidifying its cashless payments sector leadership position, Henderson joins the team to play a key role in leading strategic planning efforts, executing new operator and customer initiatives, directing pursuit of key performance indicators, and ensuring overall product and technology quality control. He reports directly to, and will work closely with, Marker Trax President Charlie Skinner.
Henderson is a seasoned, energetic industry veteran who brings to Marker Trax more than four decades of success in delivering technology-based business solutions, leading innovation-forward companies seeking to increase their industry footprints and to solidify their market shares.
âWeâre cementing our leadership position in the cashless space, and John is the right leader, at the right time, to help guide us there. He has tactical expertise, and a long track record of success in the IT space. More than that, though, heâs always eager to innovate â which aligns perfectly with our philosophy and goals. Weâre lucky to have him on board,â Charlie Skinner, President of Marker Trax, said.
Immediately prior to joining Marker Trax, Henderson served as chief information officer at WorldStrides, a global leader in educational travel services, and helped the company navigate a business and IT transformation program. Henderson has also held client partner roles at Accenture, IBM, and Cognizant, and has served numerous global brands including Choice Hotels, Hilton Hotels, MGM Resorts, Wynn, Disney, and Royal Caribbean.
âEvery step of his career, Johnâs shown natural aptitude for client relationship management and large-scale systems integrations, and a keen, tactical eye for optimizing performance at all levels of an operation. At Marker Trax, weâre increasing our market footprint through continual innovation, and Johnâs tactical leadership will be of tremendous benefit to reaching our goals,â Skinner said.
Hendersonâs addition caps a prolific run of recent accomplishments for the company. It recently unveiled its innovative consumer product, Moolah Play, secured renewed commitment from partner and global payments leader Euronet Worldwide Inc., and is introducing its cashless credit technology into more markets around the country.
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