Casino legal battle
continues

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -  

Some call it a house of cards. Others believe the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino will be a jackpot for the local economy. So what lies ahead, now that the Senecas' president begins his fourth term?

People are still coming to the temporary casino in the Cobblestone District, but Indian leaders would like to move ahead on the much larger casino they have planned, but they say it's up to the economy.

As the legal battle continues, supporters of the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino are still hopeful about the massive project that is now at a standstill.

Representative Brian Higgins (D-Buffalo) said, "The fact of the matter is it's under construction and it should proceed. It's a 300 million dollar investment in downtown Buffalo that can leverage other kinds of investment as well."

Construction was suspended around the same time that a judge ruled that the land off Michigan Avenue purchased by the Senecas cannot be legally used for casino gambling. Nation leaders say they stopped work because of the economy.

Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder said, "The steel is sitting in warehouses."

But the gaming continues at the temporary site.

Tuesday on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation, Barry Snyder was sworn in as nation president for his fourth term. He says with the struggling economy, the Seneca nation of Indians may be looking for help.

Snyder said, "We're looking for partners. We have not eliminated anybody. We're been looking for lots. I don't want to tell you all we're been looking at.'

The Seneca Nation filed a legal brief, protesting the call to close their temporary casino downtown.

The appeals process could take more than a year.

In the meantime, gambling continues at the site.