Situated just outside Montreal, Canada, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, is the Mohawk community of Kahnawake, which has a population of around 8,000. This community is also the headquarters of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission oversees the licensing and regulation of all gaming and gaming-related activities originating from the Kahnawake territory.
The Kahnawake license is particularly attractive to new businesses due to its affordability and the relatively straightforward application process compared to other jurisdictions.
Founded on June 10, 1996, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission is one of the world’s oldest regulatory bodies. It first implemented regulations for interactive gaming on July 8, 1999, in line with section 35 of the Kahnawake Gaming Law.
The commission’s regulations aim to:
- Establish a legal framework for the regulation and oversight of interactive gaming conducted from or within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake.
- Ensure that interactive gaming is conducted in a responsible, fair, and transparent manner.
- Prevent any connections between interactive gaming and criminal activity.
- Guarantee fair treatment of players, timely payment of winnings, and strict confidentiality of player account information.
- Protect individuals under eighteen years old and other vulnerable persons.
Kahnawake-licensed casinos offer various types of online gambling, including poker, casino games, and sports betting.
Additionally, the KGC can appoint third-party “Approved Agents” to support its regulatory functions. These agents may assess an applicant’s suitability for providing interactive gaming services or perform testing and auditing to ensure ongoing compliance. Approved agents include Scout Intelligence Inc, Triton Canada Inc, Gaming Associates Europe Ltd, and eCOGRA.
