Tribes Upset with Casino Companies

ALBANY, New York – As reported by the New York Times Union: "Representatives of two Iroquois tribes in New York are upset that publicly traded gambling companies may be misrepresenting their tribal relationships.

"The inaccurate portrayals, they say, could deceive investors on the odds for Catskills casino deals.

"…In a June 30 filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Harrah's declared the litigation involving the judgment essentially settled, which Rhodes-Devey and tribal chiefs say is wrong.

"…Harrah's proposes to build a Mohawk casino with the tribe at Kutsher's Resort near Monticello. But the tribal government is also considering moving the project to Monticello Raceway, a site controlled by a competing casino company, Empire Resorts.

"Empire is also misrepresenting its tribal relationships, lawyers for traditional leaders of the Cayuga Indian Nation charge in a letter to the SEC.

"…The charges of misrepresentation arise as Mohawk leaders, exploring bringing Empire and Harrah's together, have asked Gov. George Pataki to back the Monticello Raceway project…"