Turning Stone Casino plans to offer sports betting after Supreme Court decision

ALBANY — The Oneida Indians say they will offer sports betting on their central New York land in the wake of a new U.S. Supreme Court decision Monday that struck down a federal law that largely forbade sports gambling in most states.

The Oneidas say they have been making preparations to offer sports betting at venues on the Oneida reservation in anticipation of the court ruling. They plan to offer sports betting soon.

The 1993 compact with New York that cleared the way for their Turning Stone casino in Verona allows them offer any game that is permitted in the state, the Oneidas say. The Oneida Indian Nation this year opened its third casino in central New York.

Lawmakers in Albany are considering legislation that would regulate sports betting across the state. A measure introduced by Republican Sen. John Bonacic would create rules for betting in casinos and online, and subject casino sports betting to an 8.5 percent tax on gross revenue.

Sports betting operators would also pay a fee to sports leagues to support efforts to combat cheating or game fixing. Bonacic estimates that his proposal would raise between $10 million and $30 million for the state annually.

“We have remained proactive in anticipation of this decision by the court,” Bonacic said in a statement Monday. “I am confident that working together with my colleagues in both the Senate and Assembly, we can have a bill ready for governor’s signature by the end of the session.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, sounded a less optimistic note about the legislation when speaking to reporters Monday. He noted that lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn for the year next month and questioned whether that was enough time to work out the details.

“Nothing’s going to happen this year because there’s literally just a number of days left in the legislative session,” he said.