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Senecas Hold Groundbreaking Ceremony for Buffalo Casino

By Associated Press

Buffalo, NY – The Seneca Nation of Indians took a wrecking ball to an abandoned building in downtown Buffalo Thursday to begin work on the tribe's third and final Western New York casino.

The Senecas have bought nine acres near the Lake Erie shore. That land is now sovereign territory.

A 2002 agreement with the state gave the Senecas until Friday to break ground on the casino or risk losing the exclusive right to build to another tribe.

About two dozen protesters shouted and chanted through Thursday's groundbreaking. They say they're worried about the social problems blamed on gambling.

Also present was outgoing Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello, who fought for the Buffalo casino in the hope it will generate more development in the financially struggling city.

The Senecas' two existing casinos are in Niagara Falls and Salamanca. The Buffalo casino is expected to employ 1,000 people.