Oneida Indian Nation to Open a $20 Million Casino

BIG:T;he Oneida Indian Nationplans to open a $20 million The Wizard of Oz themed casino in 2015, placed in Chittenango 14 miles east from Syracuse. This Oneida project will bring more than 200 permanent jobs and numerous construction jobs for the local trade workers.

Ray Halbritter, the Oneida Nation representative and chief executive said the Oneida don't need an approval from the state, federal or local government and license from the New York State to build because the casino will be built on the Oneida reservation land, under the terms of 1993 gaming compact with the state.

State already recommended three licenses for building casinos in upstate New York and one of them is for the casino in Seneca County, west of Syracuse. Just four days after the licenses were recommended Oneida have revealed their plans for the casino project and its chief executive said that it has nothing to do with the competition with Thomas Wilmot, who plans to build the Wilmot’s Lago resort and Casino worth $425 million. The Oneida already operates with The Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona which should be expanded in 2016.

The Oneida plans to open Yellow Brick Road Casino in spring, featuring the theme of The Wizard of Oz because the Chittenango is hometown of L. Frank Baum, the man who wrote the book “Wonderful Wizard of Oz". The Chittenango facility will have more than 430 slot machines, 500 seat bingo hall, country western bar, general store which sells beverage, tobacco products, and a couple of casual dining restaurants.

Oneida also plans to get a license from the New York State Liquor Authority to serve alcohol at the new casino. It will be built on the ground of Chitenango plaza, old storefront which has been empty for years. It will be much smaller than the promised Thomas Wilmot casino with 2,000 slot machines, golf course and hotels but it will be closer to Syracuse. Ray Halbritter explained that there is no limit on the number of casinos that Oneida can open and that the only limit is a good business sense.

Even though this project will bring numerous jobs and economic boost to the Chittenango, the residents have divided opinions and mixed feelings about a new casino. Most of the residents are concerned about traffic issues it could cause. James Champlin who lives near the site where casino will be built thinks that casino is not the right thing for the empty Chittenango plaza, even though he agrees that something should be done with the empty storefront.

Deputy Mayor Mike Sudol has positive opinion about the project of the Oneida Indian Nation which has a very good relationship with Chittenango.

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