Seneca Niagra review.

The full pay PK machines I believe are now gone. Casino Niagara had 8 of them that went the do-do when the US ones did. It was an interesting competition.

If Seneca was no smoking, I'd like that one better than the Canadian casino when comparing casino to casino. Ontario has two "tribal" casinos and we have had our share of protests and land claims as well. Otherwise, the Canadian side does have the tourism and night-life so that if you leave the casino broke, you have got many, many options. If you have older children for example, you can send them off to Clifton Hill while you gamble.

Seneca Niagara is my 'home' casino. I have been going since it opened, and the smoke situation has definitely improved. Last time there my friend noticed that no one was smoking at our pai gow table, and asked if it could be smoke free. The pit boss gladly obliged. The same happenned at the only other open pai gow table. I can tolerate the overall smell of smoke so long as it is not beamed right up my nostrils. I think the buffet is fine for a buffet. Koi is a great restaurant. I have gone there when not gambling. The steakhouse is also very good. It is pricey for western New York, but I think it is worth it. The dealers are very friendly, and helpful, in my opinion. Far better than their government employee counterparts at Fallsview or Casino Niagara. I have been chastised for talking to my wife mid hand on the Canadian side, while they should be encouraging me to show her how to play. We were playing $15 pai gow. The smoke free nature of the Canadian side is a big bonus, but you have to pay for your own drinks which just feels wrong. The Canadian side also has tiles, which the American side does not. The American side is very generous with comps for low level players. For a semi regular (8 times a year?) I get match play equal to double my usual bet, once a week. Free room midweek during the winter. Free buffet twice a month. That does not count the comps you also earn while playing. The biggest advantage over the Canadian casinos is not having to cross the border. Just one 45 minute wait at the bridge is enough to make me pull out the few remaining hairs in my head.

Quote: Yoyomama

Niagara Falls, New York is in a "economically depressed" area. Lot's of boarded up restaurants and stores. Has been for years. Casino has done nothing to improve it. I go through "that part of town" on my way to the Canadian side for the Casino Niagara and Fallsview Casino. My point being, if you don't leave Seneca Niagara Casino then you're OK (if you liked the review). BUT, if you want nite life and lots of other things to do you should go to the Canadian side (you can walk from Seneca Niagara). US side view of Niagara Falls sucks. There are no restaurants, entertainment or sites on New York side worth leaving the casino for. You now need a passport to go over to Canada. So if you are looking for other fun and entertainment BRING A PASSPORT!!!!

If you do not want to get a passport there is an alternative. There is a kind of "tourist card" you can get. But you have to plan ahead, or IOW if you want to gamble Canadian Side this weekend you are out of luck.

Canadian Side is now very expensive for those with Yankee Greenbacks.

Both sides of the border (the Canadian side much more) were hurt when the passport requirements went up. The Canadian side really hurts when the dollar is close to parity.

Seneca Niagara generally has better comps for the players, has free drinks, and generally has lower limits. Overall, I think Seneca's a better gaming experience than the Canadian side, save the smoking -- which is a deal-breaker for me. And the dealers on the Canadian side are hit and miss, with most of them being pretty friendly (in my opinion). Mind you, I've had not-so good dealer experiences at Seneca especially at the Crap table. The employees at Fallsview/Niagara are not government employees (unionized, yes). The casinos pay a substantial license fee to the government to operate there (unlike the Charity casinos -- they are government workers and the facilities are owned by the government).

Quote: boymimbo

Both sides of the border (the Canadian side much more) were hurt when the passport requirements went up. The Canadian side really hurts when the dollar is close to parity.

I did my christmas shopping in Canada in 2001 when the dollar was really strong. Saved about 15% even after the rape of the GST. And got some items that made people say, "where did you find this?"

At Sears they tried to hit me up for a credit card application. I mentioned I was from the states and they said no dice. But the clerk asked why I was there and I was honest, exchange rate.

HST is now 13% in Ontario

Back in 2001, I think you could of claimed the tax back... but no longer. Maybe that was only for non-NAFTA people.

Quote: thecesspit

HST is now 13% in Ontario

Back in 2001, I think you could of claimed the tax back... but no longer. Maybe that was only for non-NAFTA people.

You got some of it back at duty-free shop, but it was restrictive. Had to be a certain dollar amount or more on one purchase, aggragate didn't count. It may still be that way.


In early 90s the combination of GST and dollar/C-dollar relationship so strong that some stores in Buffalo had a 90% Canadian customer base on weekends.

Quote: AZDuffman

If you do not want to get a passport there is an alternative. There is a kind of "tourist card" you can get. But you have to plan ahead, or IOW if you want to gamble Canadian Side this weekend you are out of luck.

Canadian Side is now very expensive for those with Yankee Greenbacks.

I have a NEXUS Card. It's credit card size. You go thru a US and Canadian background check, they finger print you and you have a 1 on 1 interview with customs. Takes 6-8 weeks. It's not as bad as it sounds. $50 for 5 years. The card has a transmitter in it so they have me up on screen before I get to customs officer. Basically, I just drive right thru to Canada and I am maybe delayed 10 seconds coming back to US. Even in the heaviest tourist times, look over to the Nexus line and there is NO ONE IN IT!! Damn I shouldn't have said anything. Might get more applicants. I go once a week so it's well worth it.

Quote: Yoyomama

I have a NEXUS Card. It's credit card size. You go thru a US and Canadian background check, they finger print you and you have a 1 on 1 interview with customs. Takes 6-8 weeks. It's not as bad as it sounds. $50 for 5 years. The card has a transmitter in it so they have me up on screen before I get to customs officer. Basically, I just drive right thru to Canada and I am maybe delayed 10 seconds coming back to US. Even in the heaviest tourist times, look over to the Nexus line and there is NO ONE IN IT!! Damn I shouldn't have said anything. Might get more applicants. I go once a week so it's well worth it.

I applied for a NEXUS card two years ago, but missed my interview and didn't end up getting one. I donated $50 to customs and border patrol :) It is extremely useful to have. As an aside, the background check for NEXUS was the most stringent I have ever encountered -- probably similar to applying for the bar in some states. I never got to the interview so I don't know what that would have been like.

Quote: AZDuffman

I did my christmas shopping in Canada in 2001 when the dollar was really strong. Saved about 15% even after the rape of the GST. And got some items that made people say, "where did you find this?"

At Sears they tried to hit me up for a credit card application. I mentioned I was from the states and they said no dice. But the clerk asked why I was there and I was honest, exchange rate.

Tell me about it! I can remember, a few years ago, getting CND$1500 for my US$1000. It was like going to MONOPOLY LAND! They even gave you the GST tax back. I would save my receipts for a couple months and then stop at the duty free shop and get the tax refunded. They stopped that.