FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 18, 2012

Contact:

Phil Pantano

Pantano & Associates, L.L.C.

716-601-4128

SENECA GAMING CORPORATION REACHES CONSTRUCTION

MILESTONE AT NEW SENECA BUFFALO CREEK CASINO

Final steel beam set into place; Completion targeted for fall 2013

BUFFALO CREEK TERRITORY – One of the most anticipated development

projects in downtown Buffalo takes shape today, as local construction workers set

the final steel beam into place for the new Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino. Amid cheers

from leaders of the Seneca Nation of Indians and the local business and construction

communities, the $130 million project, being developed on the Seneca Nation’s nine-

acre Buffalo Creek Territory, is expected to be a central component in the

rejuvenated tourism and recreation environment being cultivated in the Inner Harbor

area.

“Today, we have reached new heights on an exciting new path for the Seneca

Nation, for our neighbors in the City of Buffalo and for the thousands of visitors who

will soon be able to enjoy a new energy in downtown Buffalo,” said Barry E. Snyder,

Sr., President of the Seneca Nation of Indians. “We expect to reach even greater

heights when the new Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino opens in 2013.”

Developed with significant input from local officials and neighboring

organizations, the new casino will feature 800 slot machines and 16 table games,

creating an energetic environment with a distinctive local flavor. The menu of the

casino’s Buffalo-centric restaurant will feature such signature items as chicken wings

from Duff’s Restaurant, beef on weck from Charlie the Butcher, Italian favorites from

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BUFFALO CREEK/TOPPING OFF 2-2-2-2

Ilio DiPaolo’s, pizza from Franco’s Pizza, desserts and pastries from Chrusciki Bakery

and gelato from Sweet Melody’s, all tasty local favorites made possible through

partnerships with iconic local restaurants.

“The partnerships developed by Seneca Gaming Corporation extend far

beyond the walls and operations of this new casino and our existing properties,” said

Robert Mele, chairman, Seneca Gaming Corporation. “As a significant local employer

and a growing local business, our partners are on the construction sites, shop floors,

warehouses, board rooms and living rooms throughout Western New York.”

Although still in development, the new casino is already providing a significant

economic impact to the area through the creation of approximately 600 construction

period jobs with more than $32 million in wages and earnings. The impact is

expected to be even more widespread across Western New York when the casino

opens. Approximately 500 direct jobs will be created by the casino’s operation,

representing $52 million in annual payroll. Furthermore, the larger casino will mean

additional business opportunities for local companies. Seneca Gaming Corporation

projects that $170 million in direct and indirect spending with local companies will

result from the procurement of goods and services for the new facility.

To help foster new and ongoing local vendor partnerships, Seneca Gaming

Corporation has held a number of vendor fairs in recent months, giving local

companies of all sizes the opportunity to introduce their products and services to the

corporation and to learn what business opportunities may exist.

In addition to their local business and hiring efforts, the Seneca Nation and

Seneca Gaming Corporation, through the Seneca Buffalo Creek Development

Advisory Committee, earlier this year awarded $1 million to support a host of

community development, beautification, lighting, infrastructure and other

improvement projects in the neighborhood surrounding the Buffalo Creek Territory. A

total of 17 organizations, businesses and community groups received funding.

Construction of the new Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino and attached parking

garage is expected to continue through the summer, with a target opening in the

fall. The project was designed by The Hnedak Bobo Group, a nationally-recognized

leader in casino design. Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino opened in 2007 and has

undergone two subsequent expansions, in 2008 and 2010. Today, the casino

features 457 slot machines and attracts more than 800,000 visitors annually.

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“There is unparalleled activity and excitement taking shape in the Inner

Harbor, with the convergence of the Canalside, Webster Block and other

development initiatives,” said Seneca Gaming president and CEO Cathy Walker.

“Adding a fully-developed Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino to that mix provides all of us

an opportunity to continue to enhance the visitor experience in downtown Buffalo.”

Since 2002, the Seneca Nation and Seneca Gaming Corporation have invested

over $1 billion to develop the Nation’s three casino properties and the Seneca

Hickory Stick Golf Course in Lewiston. Seneca Gaming Corporation is one of Western

New York’s largest private employers, with more than 3,700 workers in Niagara Falls,

Buffalo and Salamanca. Today, the company operates world-class facilities offering

more than 6,500 slot machines, 140 table games, 1,000 hotel rooms, a

championship golf course and other related amenities. For more information, visit

www.senecacasinos.com.

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