CANASTOTA, N.Y. -- The Oneida Indian Nation is about to unveil slot machines at its SavOn gas station and convenience store in Canastota, N.Y., reported The Observer-Dispatch.
Nation spokesperson Joel Barkin confirmed for the newspaper the plan to go live with the machines on November 10. Any money generated would be subject to the same revenue sharing agreement as that from slot machines at the Nation's Turning Stone Resort Casino, he said.
In spring 2013, the Nation signed an agreement with New York state and Oneida and Madison counties that mandated that the state receive 25% of the Nation's slot machine take and Oneida County get 25% of the state's share.
In June, the U.S. Department of the Interior began action to take 1,300 acres of Nation land into federal Indian trust, including the land on which the SavOn gas stations are located. Trust lands are not subject to state or local taxes or regulations.
The spokesperson would not say whether the Nation plans to put slot machines at other SavOns or on its other trust lands.
State Racing & Wagering Board spokesperson Lee Park said it's his understanding that the machines fall under the Class II gaming category, which is subject to different laws than Class III table games such as roulette and black jack.
"Class II gaming is common on Indian lands and is regulated by the federal government--not pursuant to the compact between the Nation and the state," he told the paper.
Click here to view the full Observer-Dispatch report.
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