The New York State Senate approved on Tuesday a bill, under which Madison County would receive 25% of the slot machines revenue Yellow Brick Road Casino contributes to the state.
Although the proposed legislation met certain opposition by the Oneida Indian Nation, which manages the above-mentioned gambling venue, state senators voted 57-1 in its favor. Thus, being a host municipality to the facility, Madison County would receive a share of the slot machines revenue it annually generates and pays to the state. County representatives told media that it is not particularly unclear how much exactly it would receive from the casino, which opened doors last year.
The approved legislation is now headed to the New York State Assembly, which voted in favor of a similar bill back in 2015 but Assembly members will now have to state their opinion on this one, too.
The latest proposal was sponsored by Sen. David Valesky, D-Oneida, with Madison County being included in his district. Generally speaking, it is the only county within the New York borders to be hosting a Native American gambling venue without being paid a benefit as a host municipality.
Sen. Valesky commented in a news release that it is only fair for Madison County to receive a share of what the casino generates. He also explained that any payments the casino receives would exclusively come from the state’s portion of slot machines revenue.
Under a 2013 agreement with the Oneida Indian Nation, the tribe received a casino monopoly within the surrounding 10 counties in exchange for a portion of its revenue from Turning Stone Casino & Resort in Oneida County, with the latter receiving the largest share. Madison County has received the amount of $3.5 million a year since then.
When the Oneida Indian Nation launched Yellow Brick Road Casino in 2015, Madison County argued that it should receive a portion of what the state receives from the new casino. Oneida County said that it did not approve of that, claiming that any change in the 2013 settlement should first be backed by all involved parties, including both Madison and Oneida Counties, the tribe, and state lawmakers.
