LakeSide Entertainment

LakeSide Entertainment Overview

LakeSide Entertainment is a small Native American Casino in Union Springs, New York. Lakeside is owned and operated by the Cayuga Nation.

The building itself is a former NAPA Auto Parts store purchased by the Cayuga Nation in 2003. It opened as a bingo hall in 2004 offering bingo and pull-tabs. The property was closed a year later after jurisdictional disputes with the local government.

The bingo hall opened up twice in 2013 amidst an ongoing legal dispute.

New York State negotiated new gaming compacts with the The Seneca Nation of Indians, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, and the Oneida Indian Nation to share casino revenues in 2013. However, the Oneida Indian Nation was granted exclusive rights to operate casinos in the area where the LakeSide Entertainment operation stood.

The Cayuga Nation challenged the agreement. In March 2014, a settlement was reached between the Oneida Indian Nation and New York State including a guarantee for the Cayuga Nation to build and operate a casino in Cayuga County.

The Cayuga Nation immediately reopened the LakeSide Entertainment gaming facility.

LakeSide Entertainment is now a Class II Gaming facility located on Route 90 in Union Springs, NY. Union Springs sits on Cayuga Lake within one hour of Syracuse, NY.

Small gaming facility

LakeSide Entertainment offers more than 80 Video Lottery Terminal games. The facility consists of a single building and parking lot. It promises big casino gambling in a much smaller, friendlier gaming environment.

The game machines accept cash and issue vouchers, with bets ranging from $0.30 to $9.

The VLTs resemble Vegas-Style slot machines, including:

Bonnie and Clyde
Goldie Locks & 3 Bears
Jackpot Inferno
Smoking Hot Diamonds
Triple 777’s Jackpot
White Hot Progressive
Wild Pixies
Wild Wild Sevens
Zombie Outbreak

Lakeside online casino gaming possibilities

After years of legal challenges, LakeSide Entertainment and the Cayuga Nation remain fairly new to the Native American casino industry. As of early 2023, online casino gaming in New York remains prohibited. Therefore, you cannot play online roulette in NY at this time, nor any other popular casino table or card game. The same law prohibits online slots for real money in NY.

However, should legal and regulated online casino gaming eventually come to New York State, LakeSide Entertainment and the Cayuga Nation may be interested in the additional revenue stream it would provide. We expect the launch of many new online casinos in New York looking to capitalize on the market, as well as some established casinos looking to form partnerships and operate in the state, including the following:

Lakeside online poker readiness

New York Legislators were considering legal and regulated online poker in early 2018. LakeSide Entertainment and the Cayuga Nation do not own and operate a poker room and have very little experience with the online poker industry.

However, should the online poker market open up in New York, LakeSide Entertainment and the Cayuga Nation could see it as an opportunity to expand its gaming offerings.

Limited amenities

LakeSide Entertainment is a small property offering only limited amenities. The property is only open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

The facility offers free coffee and water. There is no restaurant on site, although a variety of snacks and drinks are available at a snack bar.

Recommendations for local restaurants include:

Aurora Inn Dining Room
Dorie’s Bakery
Fargo Bar & Grill
Gus’s
Hua Mei
Jason’s New York Pizzeria

LakeSide Entertainment