Oneida Indian Nation premieres new expansion

This week in Upstate New York, the Oneida Indian Nation celebrated the grand opening of a multi-million dollar expansion at its Yellow Brick Road Casino.

According to the Tuesday press release, the new 19,400 square foot entertainment space features two high-tech Topgolf Swing Suite bays; “The Lanes,” a six-lane luxury Brunswick Bowling Center; shuffleboard; multiple pool tables; sports betting desk; 20-plus LED screens; over 65 additional slot machines; and a spacious full-service bar, including bar-top gaming, and dining area.

Multi-phase expansion and renovation:

Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Chief Executive Officer for Nation Enterprises, Ray Halbritter, said…

“Today marks the beginning of a new era of fun and excitement at YBR Casino and Sports Book, and for the entire region as well,” according to the Oneida Daily Dispatch.

Over the last year, the gambling and entertainment venue in the village of Chittenango has seen significant changes, having undergone a multi-phase $10,000,000 renovation that began with the addition of The Lounge with Caesar Sports, announced in July 2019, making it New York’s largest sportsbook.

The year-round, multi-sport viewing and wagering venue also opened at the Oneida Nation’s flagship Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York, and at its 65,000 square foot Point Place Casino in Bridgeport.

Other recent changes include a new dining option called Burgers of Madison County, which replaced Dorothy’s Farm House, and according to the casino’s website features “scratch-made homestyle specialties.”

Updates in a style that “reflects the area’s industrial history with a contemporary flair,” are also slated to begin this spring, according to Halbritter.

New York DFS fate:

In related news, the New York Supreme Court has ruled that a 2016 law making daily fantasy (DFS) contests like those operated by FanDuel and DraftKings legal, violated a constitutional prohibition on gambling. The court upheld a 2018 decision by Acting Justice Gerald W. Connolly, who ruled (pdf) that DFS is unconstitutional in the state. The appellate court judge held that gambling was unlawfully expanded by the state in 2016 by classifying the activity as a skill game and not one of chance.