Shinnecock Indian Nation Sets Up a Casino Venture with New Partners

In a strategic move targeted at entering the casino gaming market in New York, the Shinnecock Indian Nation announced a new casino venture in partnership with the developer Tri-State Partners and casino operator Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment.

This strategic partnership will put the tribe in a position where it can negotiate a compact with the state and get the permission to operate a Class III casino on an offsite location. It is noticeable that the tribe has been permitted to operate Class II gaming on its sovereign land in Southampton after getting federal recognition in 2010.

In a statement released after inking the deal, the tribal council said that it would create employment opportunities for the tribe and spur economic growth.

According to the Shinnecock Council of Trustees, this partnership will lead to the development of a world-class casino on the Shinnecock Reservation.

Though there is a strong possibility that the state will allow a gaming facility to open on the reservation, the U.S. National Indian Gaming Commission will have the final say on it. The commission is awaiting the outcomes of an ongoing study by the state “to determine the economic feasibility and overall impact of granting additional casino licenses downstate.”

If it is approved, then it would be an end to a decade long fight of the tribe to open a casino in the downstate New York.

Shinnecock Reservation is a luxurious spot for spending time and has many summer vacation homes owned by elite Americans. Allowing a gaming facility to open here with full casino offerings could be a win-win situation for both the tribe and the state.