NEWS

LAS VEGAS (May 31, 2005) – The popular New York Gaming Summit will return for its fourth installment June 21-22 at Turning Stone Casino Resort in Verona. Gaming in New York continues to make news almost daily, and the ever-evolving slate of choices and challenges facing the industry will be reflected in the outstanding conference lineup at this year’s Summit.

Since last year’s Summit, two additional racetracks – Monticello Raceway and Batavia Downs – have opened their gaming floors. New legislation has helped put the racetracks and video gaming on more solid ground. In early May, the state's highest court upheld the legality of the original VLT legislation and reversed a lower court's decision that the revenue sharing with horsemen was unconstitutional. The new legislation gives the tracks a slightly larger share of gaming revenues, and also provides for a new marketing and promotional fund. These issues will be discussed in at least two sessions:  “Legal and Regulatory Update,” and “Racing & Gaming in New York.

“The Catskills Casino Question” session will address the ongoing issues in tribal gaming in that region. Late last year Gov. Pataki announced a potential settlement of the long-running Cayuga Indian claim, but claims by the Oneida Nation of New York remain unsettled while yet another land claims dispute by the Onondaga Nation – this one unrelated to gaming – threatens to muddy the waters further. And in what some tribal leaders say is an attempt to force the Oneida to the bargaining table, Pataki in December announced he wants to increase the number of casinos in the Catskills to five from the three he proposed in 2001.

Returning this year is the New York Gaming Golf Challenge June 21. And Summit participants can get a behind-the-scenes look at Standing Stone Gaming's Oneida II Account-Based Solution at Turning Stone Casino during a special NYGS-only tour at 5 p.m. June 21. Both the Golf Challenge and the tour are included as part of the NYGS registration package.  

Learn more about the conference and register online at www.nysummit.com.  Attendees can register for just $325 per person, if they register by Friday, June 3.

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Media contact and registration:  Stephen Gibbs, (913) 344-1334; sgibbs@ascendmedia.com