Progress Made in Catskill Casino Project

MONTICELLO, NY-The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe believes its plan to build a casino at the Monticello Raceway here is one step closer to reality. The Tribal Council reports that Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Indian Affairs George Skibine has sent a letter to New York Gov. George Pataki that addresses some concerns the governor had last month about the tribe’s plans before the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The letter reconfirms the validity of a two-part affirmative determination issued almost six years ago by the Bureau of Indian Affairs on an application by the tribe to build a casino at the raceway site, Tribal Council officials say. A short time after it received the green light from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in April 2000, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe switched its project site to the Kutsher’s Sports Academy in the Town of Thompson. Recently, the Tribal Council decided to partner with Empire Resorts Inc., the owner and operator of Monticello Raceway, and bring the project back to its original location.