VERONA, N.Y. (AP) — The 25th anniversary of the opening of the Oneida Indian Nation’s first casino in central New York has been celebrated.
Local officials and employees of Turning Stone Resort Casino gathered Tuesday to commemorate the casino’s opening on July 21, 1993.
The casino was built on Oneida Indian land just off Exit 33 of the Thruway in Verona, 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Syracuse. Syracuse.com reports the initial $10 million facility was financed from the tribe’s bingo and cigarette profits.
Today, the business has grown to include more than 1,700 slot machines, five golf courses, four hotels, several restaurants and a concert venue. Employment has grown from about 1,000 in 1993 to nearly 5,000 today.
In recent years the tribe has opened smaller casinos in nearby Chittenango and Bridgeport.
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This story has been corrected to change today’s employment to nearly 5,000 instead of nearly 4,000.
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Information from: The Post-Standard
