Concerns raised over Finger Lakes racetrack's future amid possible Rochester casino plan

CANANDAIGUA, NY – Several Ontario County officials are calling for a seat at the table when it comes to considering a possible Seneca Nation casino for the Rochester area.

At the very least, they want consideration of the impact a casino would have on a major employer in the county, Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack in Farmington.

State Sen. Pam Helming, R-Canandaigua, Ontario County Board of Supervisors Chairman Todd Campbell, Farmington Supervisor Peter Ingalsbe and Ontario County Economic Director Ryan Davis issued a joint statement Wednesday.

Ontario County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ethan Fogg also issued a statement.

Late last week the state Senate approved a bill authorizing the governor to negotiate a new gambling pact with the Senecas. The current pact expires in December of this year. The legislation is hitting roadblocks in the state Assembly as well as with officials in Rochester, who also have said they felt left out of the process.

Campbell, who also is West Bloomfield town supervisor, called on the governor and state legislators to delay any further action on a proposed gaming compact for aa casino. His statement goes on to say that state officials need to engage with “all affected local communities to ensure that any unintended negative consequences of this proposal are fully understood and accounted for before moving forward.”

Ontario County has been home to Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack since 1962.

A statement issued Monday by Steve Martin, senior director of marketing for Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack, said the Farmington operation has long been a vital economic contributor in the Rochester region by employing more than 1,500 local residents and supporting the region’s agricultural and equine economies through racing.

“The state’s video lottery terminal (VLT) gaming venues contribute a far greater percentage of their revenue to the state than the Seneca casinos, meaning the demise of the Finger Lakes venue at the hands of a Rochester-area Seneca casino would cost the state tens of millions of dollars in revenue and the regional economy thousands of jobs,” Martin’s statement read. “We implore the state Assembly to intervene to stop this back-door deal."

County officials backed Martin, stressing that a potential casino in Rochester could pose a significant risk to the future viability of Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack and the crucial role it plays in Ontario County.

Davis noted that Ontario County has had a long partnership with Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack and it continues to be an important local employer, community partner and regional economic driver.

The Ontario County Economic Development Corp. and the Ontario County Industrial Development Agency share Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack’s concerns with the potential creation of another gaming facility in our region, Davis stated.

“A change of this magnitude deserves careful consideration, regional input and cooperation," Davis stated. "We echo the sentiments of our regional partners and urge New York state to allow for thoughtful input from all of us who call the Rochester region our home.”

Ingalsbe said revenues from video lottery terminals helped to keep the town’s taxes low and helped fund capital projects like the highway garage, town justice building and a new 40-acre park, Ingalsbe.

“Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack is the closest to Rochester and relies on customers from the Rochester area,” Ingalsbe said. “It would inevitably suffer by having another casino in the Rochester area.”

Helming said Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack contributes significantly to Ontario County and the region, through jobs, opportunities for farmers and small businesses, and through tax dollars that support local nonprofits and make critical investments possible in local communities.

“Counties, municipalities and taxpayers deserve to have their voices heard in this process,” Helming stated.

Fogg said the business organization stands with its colleagues in government and industry and cited the importance of considering a casino’s impact on the regional economy and workforce.

“We urge the governor’s office to give voice and transparency to taxpayers in this process,” Fogg stated.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: What effect would a casino have on Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack?