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Graduation Set For Wednesday, August 25

Salamanca, NY, August 2004 - In today's job market, it's rare that graduates immediately find a job. More than 70 students will graduate after attending "summer school" for the past 10 weeks and nearly all will have a position waiting for them at Seneca Allegany Casino. The students will receive Seneca Allegany Casino Class II Poker Completion Certificates at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 25 during a graduation ceremony at the Casino's Administrative Offices at 725 Broad St., Salamanca.

The students have attended classes four hours each weekday at either morning or evening sessions for nearly three months. During intense training, they learned the fine art of becoming a Poker dealer, concentrating on the three core Poker games, Texas Hold'em, Omaha and 7 Card Stud, table procedures, card handling and delivery, customer relations, as well as rules and regulations of Class II Poker Operations. Several students currently hold positions at Seneca Allegany Casino or Seneca Niagara Casino and were interested in furthering their careers. For others, the free course was an entr�e into the entertainment industry.

The Seneca Territory Gaming Corp. recruited talented instructors who created the course specifically to meet the expanding needs of Seneca Allegany Casino. On September 3, the Casino is opening a new Poker Room and will need to hire 80 dealers.

After passing auditions, drug screening and obtaining a gaming license, students have an excellent chance of becoming the Casino's newest Poker dealers.

The graduating class has an age range of 21 to 60. Students generally come from the surrounding community including Salamanca, Jamestown, Olean, Gowanda, Allegany, Bradford, Pa. and Erie, Pa., among other locales.

"Gaming is a growing industry and Poker is becoming increasingly popular," said Rickey L. Armstrong, Sr., President, Seneca Nation of Indians. "We're pleased that we can satisfy people's entertainment preferences and even happier that we are providing good paying careers for area residents while helping grow the area's economy."

Located in the foothills of scenic Salamanca, Seneca Allegany Casino features Vegas-style gaming and high-stakes Bingo. The facility's 48,000 square feet includes a main gaming floor with table games including Blackjack, Craps, Caribbean Stud Poker, Spanish 21 and 3 Card Poker and more than 1,700 reel-spinning and video slot machines, a Bingo and entertainment room, two snack bars, Thunder Mountain Buffet, Eight Clans Gift Shop, live weekend entertainment and a bus lobby. The Casino also offers free valet and self-parking, free coat check and complimentary beverages while gaming. The Casino is owned and operated by The Seneca Nation of Indians.