The St. Regis Mohawk tribe of New York, which voted on November 21 not to pursue an off-reservation casino in the Catskills, overturned that vote on November 30.
The initial referendum, which resulted in a 178-140 vote against casino development, was nullified when a tribal member filed an appeal with the tribe’s Election Board, challenging the length of time the referendum notice was posted before the vote was taken. Investigators learned that council members were one day short of the required 30-day public posting set down in election law.
Another vote will be taken in January or February, a tribal spokeswoman said.
The Mohawks had planned to partner with Empire Resorts to develop a $500 million casino next to the Monticello Casino & Raceway. In January, the tribe entered into a partnership with Kien Huat Realty of Malaysia, which offered start-up money to other gaming resorts on the East Coast.
