CORNWALL-- The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe is standing by its claim that New York State has broken a gaming contract.
The tribe sent out a press release on Tuesday with details about the alleged violation.
"According to the Tribe, the state has allowed the installation and operation of slot machines at the Ganienkeh Territorial Bingo," stated the release.
"The tribe asserts that New York State officials have been fully aware of the gaming activities at Ganienkeh since prior to the adoption of the compact amendment in 2004."
Under the agreement, the tribe has exclusive rights to operate slot machines in several counties in upstate New York.
In exchange, the tribe provides revenue payments to the state, which is then partially distributed back to municipalities in the region.
The tribe stopped the payments early last month.
But the state authorities responded that the revenue sharing must continue unless the tribe had proof of the violation.
If an arbitrator sides with the tribe, it no longer has to send those cheques and could seek reimbursement for all of the money sent to the state while the slot machines were in operation.
Between April 2005 and December 2009, those payments totaled $51.1 million.
Morgan Hook, director of communications for New York Governor David Paterson, said the slot machines have been in operation for four years, and the tribe has never raised it as an issue in the past.
He also added that they are operated by fellow Mohawks, so "Indian exclusivity has not been breached."
"We look forward to resolving this issue as soon as possible," Hook added in an email.