Upstate New York Casino Advantage Play Guide

Upstate New York has a surprisingly rich casino landscape — four commercial resorts plus a network of Oneida Nation and Seneca Nation tribal casinos spread across the state from the Catskills to Niagara Falls. Unlike New York City, where Resorts World NYC is the primary option, upstate players have access to multiple large-floor properties with national program connections and significant machine inventories.

Upstate New York Casino Overview

New York legalized commercial casino gaming in 2013 via constitutional amendment, and upstate commercial licenses were awarded in 2014-2015. The state Gaming Commission regulates all commercial properties. Tribal casinos operate under the Oneida Nation and Seneca Nation gaming compacts, which predate the commercial licensing and offer more flexibility in operations.

New York recently approved downstate commercial casino licenses (for the NYC metro area), but upstate properties continue to hold the regional advantage play market for most of the state's population north of the city.

Turning Stone Resort Casino (Verona)

Turning Stone is the undisputed anchor of upstate New York gaming. Operated by the Oneida Indian Nation in Verona (near Utica/Rome), it's the largest upstate casino and one of the most comprehensive resort properties in the Northeast.

• 3,500+ machines across a large floor; strong mix of current-generation titles
• Oneida Rewards loyalty program (Turning Stone Rewards) — competitive free play offers and tier benefits
• Four hotel options on campus; multiple golf courses; full-service resort infrastructure
• Located centrally in New York state — about 50 miles east of Syracuse, 90 miles west of Albany
• Tourist and destination travel brings play from New York City and beyond, creating elevated progressive meters

del Lago Resort & Casino (Waterloo)

del Lago is a commercial casino located in Waterloo, in the Finger Lakes region — a strategic midpoint between Buffalo and Syracuse. The property is managed by Caesars Entertainment, making it the primary Caesars Rewards-earning location in upstate New York.

• 2,000+ machines; modern floor with good progressive selection
• Caesars Rewards: full tier credit earning toward Caesars Palace, Harrah's, Paris, and all national Caesars properties
• Hotel on-site; connected amenity complex
• Located about 50 miles from both Buffalo and Rochester; accessible from Syracuse

Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady

Rivers Casino Schenectady is operated by Rush Street Gaming and is part of the Rush Rewards network. Rush Street properties span multiple states, making Schenectady a meaningful national program option for AP players who also visit Chicago, Pittsburgh, or Philadelphia.

• 1,150+ machines; urban casino in the heart of Schenectady
• Rush Rewards: earnable across Rivers casinos in Pittsburgh (PA), Des Plaines (IL), and other markets
• 20 minutes west of Albany; accessible from the Capital Region
• Hotel tower connected; entertainment venue

Resorts World Catskills (Sullivan County)

Resorts World Catskills opened in 2018 in Monticello, about 90 miles north of New York City in Sullivan County. It serves the Catskills resort market and the large New York City population within reasonable driving distance.

• 2,150+ machines; modern floor
• Resorts World Rewards loyalty program — independent but competitive
• NYC proximity brings significant weekend destination traffic that elevates machine meters
• Part of the Genting Group; no connection to Las Vegas-based national programs

Seneca Nation Casinos

The Seneca Nation operates three casinos in western New York, all connected on the Seneca Club loyalty program:

• Seneca Niagara Resort Casino (Niagara Falls) — the flagship Seneca property; 3,000+ machines; draws significant Canadian cross-border traffic; one of the most active machine floors in New York state
• Seneca Allegany Resort Casino (Salamanca) — full resort property in the Southern Tier; 2,000+ machines; hotel and entertainment complex
• Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino (Buffalo) — urban downtown Buffalo location; 600+ machines; smaller but convenient for Buffalo-area players

All three Seneca properties earn Seneca Club points and tier credits on the same card. For western New York AP players, covering all three Seneca properties plus del Lago (Caesars Rewards) creates a powerful multi-program circuit.

AP Strategy Circuits

Western New York Circuit

• Seneca Niagara (3,000+ machines, Seneca Club) — Niagara Falls
• Seneca Buffalo Creek (600+ machines, Seneca Club) — downtown Buffalo
• del Lago (2,000+ machines, Caesars Rewards) — 60 miles east via I-90

Central New York Circuit

• Turning Stone (3,500+ machines, Oneida Rewards) — Verona
• del Lago (2,000+ machines, Caesars Rewards) — 80 miles west via I-90

Frequently Asked Questions