Lago Resort & Casino shot down in New York

After a state location board recommended it be granted one of four new commercial casino licenses last year, there has been controversy over the decision.

Despite an almost year-old recommendation of the siting board and construction already underway on the property, opposition against the casino continues to build. Joining the critics who want the license rejected includes Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, who has criticized the location, as well as Oneida Country state lawmakers and the Onedia Indian Nation.

“The Location Board apparently has never heard of Niagara Falls, Batavia, Farmington, Verona or Vernon, or just don’t care about the people there and the jobs these communities will lose. Shifting jobs is not creating jobs. Putting 1,200 people out of work or forcing them to move to compete for work is not how to revitalize upstate,” said Pretlow.

A public relations firm was hired by the Oneida Nation to launch a media campaign against Lago claiming the project would drain revenue and jobs in the region. Lago fired back with its own campaign that aims to refute a series of false claims made by the Oneida Nation. It explains the $425m project will create 1,800 construction jobs and 1,800 permanent jobs.