Buffalo's Mayor Brown secures the gaming license and enables the official switch to OTB

BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) – Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has secured his gaming license, which will allow the mayor to officially become the next President and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting if he accepts the contract offered to him .

The mayor's license was listed online early Monday morning. It expires on September 24, 2025.

Brown is being offered $295,000 per year. The contract is a one-year contract with incentives in the second and third years. He hasn't officially accepted the offer yet and we're told more details will be revealed when he signs the offer.

The position was contingent on Brown obtaining his gambling license, which the OTB board said would be done on an expedited basis.

The current President and CEO, Henry Wojtaszek, will leave the gaming agency at the end of the year.

Should a mayor resign from office before the end of his or her term of office, such powers and duties shall pass to the President of the Common Council in accordance with the City's charter. In this case, South District Council member Chris Scanlon would become acting mayor if Brown leaves.

7 News has learned Mayor Brown will hold a press conference Monday at 5 p.m.