Oneidas to NY state: Finger Lakes casino would eat away at tribe's thriving upstate business

The Oneida Indian Nation says the state Gaming Commission should deny an upstate New York casino developer's application for a license, in part because the competition would "cannibalize" business from the tribe's popular casino.

Williams and Connolly, the Washington, D.C., law firm representing the Oneidas, sent a letter Wednesday to the commission challenging the selection of a site in the Finger Lakes region for the Lago Resort & Casino. The property just off the Thruway in Seneca County is 65 miles west of the Oneida's thriving Turning Stone casino.

The Oneidas say Lago's developers, Rochester-based Wilmorite, didn't meet the selection criteria and failed to submit required information for the review process, including independent environmental studies.

Lago's spokesman hadn't seen the Oneidas' letter and had no immediate comment.