Impact of Planned Seneca Casino & Hotel Questioned BUFFALO (wned) - The Seneca Gaming Corporation has unveiled plans for a $333-million casino complex in Buffalo, including a 22-story, 200-room hotel, similar to the luxury hotels the Senecas operate at their casinos in Niagara Falls and Salamanca.

Originally, the Senecas planned to build just a casino in Buffalo.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown supports the casino-hotel complex and doesn't think the hotel will affect other downtown facilities.

"I don't think its going to have a negative impact at all on other hotels and restaurants. This is going to be a suites-only hotel...so that's certainly no going to compete with the other fine properties we have in Buffalo," Brown said.

But the head of the Buffalo Convention and Visitors Bureau says the Seneca hotel would have a big advantage because it won't have to pay sales tax. Richard Geiger says the Senecas will also be exempt from paying the county's bed tax.

"They can build whatever they like, but we would like to see them spend money out of the market to bring people here," Geiger said.

Mayor Brown says the Senecas will market aggressively outside of Western New York because the Buffalo casino complex represents a major investment.

Opponents continue to fight the planned casino in court. If successful, they say the Senecas will be prevented from opening a casino in Buffalo. © Copyright 2009, wned