Additional gaming options and more sports betting stations

New York: Oneidas expanding Yellow Brick Road Casino

Yellow Brick Road Casino’s expanded amenities include partnerships with Topgolf Swing Suite and Brunswick Bowling.
2019-12-12
Reading time 3:13 min
As part of a nearly $10 M overall investment, the expansion is expected to be complete by early February. It includes a new entertainment wing featuring an indoor golf range, a six-lane bowling center, games like shuffleboard and pool, and new dining options. The renovation project also includes a redesign of the casino’s exterior.

The Oneida Indian Nation announced Wednesday the third phase of expansion at its Yellow Brick Road Casino, located in the Village of Chittenango, Central New York. The expansion, which is part of a nearly $10 million overall investment, features additional gaming options, including more sports betting stations and over ten television screens.

The new upgrade also includes two high-tech Topgolf Swing Suite bays, a six-lane Brunswick Bowling center, games like shuffleboard and pool, a new casino bar and restaurants —a Burgers of Madison County venue is now open— and a new exterior facade. It is expected to be complete by early February, according to an official news release.

This project follows other recent investments by the Oneidas in their operations in Madison and Oneida counties: an expansion of the gaming floor at Point Place Casino in Bridgeport; an upgrade to hotel rooms and other improvements at the Oneidas biggest venue, Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona; and a new indoor/outdoor dining and slot machine venue in Sylvan Beach.

Yellow Brick Road, Turning Stone and Point Place this year have also opened sports betting lounges in partnership with Caesars Sports. The sportsbook that opened at Yellow Brick Road in September is the state’s largest in physical size. It also hosts a weekly eSports tournament.

The Oneidas investment also comes amid what has been a tough time for some of its competitors in the Upstate New York casino gaming industry. Several of the non-Indian nation owned casinos have reported lower-than-expected earnings, while the Seneca Nation of Indians in western New York has been involved in a prolonged tax dispute with the state.

The Oneidas, however, believe that continued investment in their properties is good business, said Joel Barkin, the nation’s vice president for communications. The recent expansions and additions to the nation’s operations have created more than 125 jobs, with another 20 estimated to come with the Yellow Brick Road expansion, he said. “We’ve made significant investments in Turning Stone and Point Place, and Yellow Brick Road definitely needed some attention to keep up and remain a destination,” Barkin said.

The three casinos, he said, generated $70 million this year in gaming payments to the state and the 10 counties in the Oneidas’ exclusive gaming territory. That’s the “most successful” year in gaming payments since the Oneidas signed its most recent compact with the state in 2013. Under the compact, the Oneidas pay 25 percent of their slot revenue to the state and local governments.

Much of the expansion at Yellow Brick Road will happen in the space once occupied the nation’s full-service liquor store, the Tin Woodsman’s Flask. It closed earlier this year to make way for the new sportsbook and expansion.

“With the latest renovations to our gaming floor, the addition of The Lounge with Caesars Sports and this next phase of expansions, YBR will be completely transformed into a multi-entertainment venue unlike anything else in the area,” said Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Oneida Nation Enterprises CEO Ray Halbritter. “This new phase of renovations at YBR is geared to exceed guest expectations, and is a reflection of the Oneida Indian Nation’s ongoing commitment to reinvesting in Central New York. By expanding our offerings, we will be creating new jobs and helping to revitalize the region as a premier tourist destination.”

“The expansion of entertainment options at YBR Casino and the reputation the Oneida Indian Nation has for offering the best amenities for guests is consistent with the fun, social experiences guests know and expect from Topgolf,” said Peter Kratsios, Director of Business Development from Topgolf Swing Suite.  “More than half of the guests who enjoy Topgolf have never touched a golf club in their life, so we are confident the addition of Topgolf Swing Suites will attract new guests, golfers and non-golfers, to the property.”

“We’re excited about our partnership with the Oneida Indian Nation and bringing new entertainment options to YBR Casino,” said Jason Dean, Director of New Business Development for Brunswick Bowling Products. “When experienced in an atmosphere like YBR Casino, we know that Brunswick Bowling will be the perfect complement to the YBR Casino experience.”

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