By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who is campaigning for Governor, weighs in on Buffalo's casino issue. He said the Seneca Nation's plans for a downtown casino should attract tourists from outside the region.
Spitzer said concerns surrounding the Seneca Nation's filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission "drew appropriate attention."
According to the filing, the Senecas would rely on customers for its downtown casino from Buffalo and nearby suburbs, instead of outside the region.
Spitzer said he is disappointed with the filing. He said the Senecas should work to attract visitors from outside the local market.
"It is unclear to me why a casino that is getting so much in terms of a public benefit, a public investment, should not be trying to expand the reach of its audience, so that we bring in dollars from those who are not necessarily here in the region and downtown Buffalo," said Spitzer.
WBFO News also asked Spitzer that if he is elected governor, how would he scrutinize the casino-gaming compact devised by the current Pataki Administration with the Senecas.
Spitzer said he would treat it as an "open issue" and examine the legality.
"Well, we're going to need to look to see whether or not these contracts have been finalized and approved. It may be impossible to reopen the issue of the degree to which their states support and try to say we won't provide the state support unless you expand the effort to draw non-western New Yorkers," said Spitzer.
"But if those contracts are final, there's not much you can do to renegotiate a point that is settled. But there may be other opportunities to revisit the issue. We'll have to look at it."
Spitzer said they need to work with the Senecas to try and change their perspective on how to market customers to a downtown casino.