Matters of Opinion

Well. So much for "The house always wins."

The lead editorial in today's Buffalo News takes note of the federal court ruling that will, if not overturned on appeal, kill the Buffalo Creek Casino that the Seneca Nation of Indians is already building just down the way from our offices. All we're sure of is that we're not sure. And we imagine the Seneca's aren't, either.
While the judge made plain that the casino could not legally operate, the details and ramifications were muddy enough that even the Senecas canceled a press conference they previously announced to respond to it. The lawyer for the casino opponents said he would immediately petition the chairman of the Gaming Commission to shut down Buffalo Creek Casino, but how quickly that could occur, or whether an appeal would forestall it, was uncertain. And if the casino is shuttered, what other use would the Senecas make of the land?

The News article announcing the decision is here. [Depending on the rotation, it may be accompanied by a Web ad for the Senecas' Niagara Falls casino.] The text of the ruling from U.S. District Court Judge William M. Skretny - which goes back to the 15th century to set the stage - is here. The Web site for the Buffalo Creek Casino is still here and, as of Wednesday morning, said nothing about the ruling.

Meanwhile, for what it's worth, this is the centerpiece of today's Indianapolis Star: No longer a sure thing: For the first time in more than 12 years of legalized casino gambling in Indiana, booming growth has halted and business has declined. Long considered a recession-proof industry, the casinos' struggles show how rising gas prices and falling home values may be crimping consumer confidence across the state. For the first six months of this year, money spent at Indiana casinos generated $465.6 million in tax revenue, down from $488.6 million for the same period a year ago.

--George Pyle/Editorial Writer