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ALBANY---An agreement with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe to build a casino in the Catskills has been signed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer, amending an existing gaming compact with the Mohawks, granting the tribe authority to build and operate a gaming facility at Monticello Raceway in Sullivan County.
"This agreement creates an economic partnership between the Mohawks and the people of New York," Spitzer said. "By working together, we can establish a premier gaming facility the will produce significant revenues for the tribe and the state, and help spark a resurgence of the Catskills region."
Under the compact, the state will receive 20% of revenues from slot machines for the first two years, 23% for the next two years, and 25% thereafter.
The Mohawks have agreed to comply with applicable tax, labor, and health laws, as those laws relate to the Monticello casino project.
In conjunction with signing the agreement, Spitzer sent a "concurrence letter," as required by federal law, to U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. The letter is a formal notice indicating that use of the property for casino purposes is in the best interest of the tribe and surrounding community.
The Governor and the tribal chiefs urged the Department of the Interior to move quickly to take the raceway into trust in order that the gaming facility be built and operated in compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
The proposed $600 million Monticello casino project is expected to create more than 3,000 full-time jobs. 2-19-07
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© 2007 North
Country Gazette
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