Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel Opens

SALAMANCA, New York  -- With one snip of a giant pair of scissors, Seneca Nation of Indians President Maurice John kicked off the official celebration for one of the most significant development
  projects in Western New York's Southern Tier since railroad engines first rolled through Salamanca.

The new, $160 million Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel celebrated its official Grand Opening on Friday as hundreds of invited guests came to share in the excitement of Seneca Gaming Corporation's latest gaming and entertainment resort.

"It is my pleasure to welcome all of you to the world's newest premier gaming destination," Gus Tsivikis, General Manager of Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel told the crowd gathered in the facility's hotel lobby after they enjoyed a performance by 20 Native American dancers.

Nestled among the foothills of the Allegany Mountains, the resort features a 212-room luxury hotel, complete with three new restaurants, full-service spa and salon, and indoor swimming pool, as well as a full-service casino. The 68,300 square-foot grand casino floor offers guests 2,235 slot machines and 40 table games.

"The Seneca name is becoming known for quality and excellence throughout the gaming industry and across the country," said Barry E. Snyder, Sr., Chairman of Seneca Gaming Corporation, which also operates Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, New York. "Take one look around this wonderful new facility and you will understand why. We are truly setting a new standard for how to treat and entertain guests."

Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel is located on the Seneca Nation's Allegany Territory and is owned by the Seneca Nation of Indians, which operates the facility through its wholly-owned Seneca Gaming Corporation.

"This is a very proud day for the Seneca people," said President John. "Our home here on the Allegany Territory is a very special place and has been an important part of our past. It is fitting that today we start an exciting new chapter of our Nation's promising future right here in Allegany."

The grand opening comes less than 18 months after ground was broken for the project in October 2005. The new Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel is a far cry from the original, temporary casino that opened on May 1, 2004.

"I have been in the gaming industry for more than 25 years, and I can say without question that this facility is one of the most beautiful resorts I have ever seen and clearly one of the best in the country," Brian Hansberry, President and CEO, Seneca Gaming Corporation, said.

Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel now employs more than 1,200 workers, making it one of the largest employers in the area.

"This project will redefine the surrounding area," Snyder said. "The Seneca name will stand tall above the region and attract the attention of visitors the world over."

As part of the Grand Opening, Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel will transform the original casino facility into a large-scale events center for a performance by country music superstar Travis Tritt on Saturday, March 31.