Kahnawake Gaming Commission is the governing body for physical and online casinos located in the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in southern Quebec. Kahnawake Mohawk Territory is a First Nations Reserve that is autonomous; they have their laws and regulations for different issues. They have regulations regarding company laws, corporate operations, taxation, and licensing.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission issues licenses to casinos in this region and also monitors these licenses. They have licensed about fifty casino operators running roughly 250 online casinos.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission was established in 1996 and three years after, they passed laws concerning online gambling. This makes them one of the oldest online gaming legislators worldwide. From the time of its establishment to the time it enacted online gaming laws, Kahnawake Gaming Commission worked on becoming an autonomous entity in Canada. They spent this time outlining the political and legal structure of the Mohawk Territory, therefore, obtaining the legal right to license casinos.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission Regulations
Following its regulation of online sites, the “Regulations concerning Interactive Gaming”, casino operators seeking licenses have to host their gaming site at the Mohawk Internet Technologies data center. The data center is managed by Continent 8 Technologies which works specifically for hosting eGaming platforms.
The Regulations concerning Interactive Gaming gives some key principles by which Kahnawake Gaming Commission casinos should operate under the Kahnawake gambling law. Some of these principles are:
- Online gambling based in, from, or within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake is regulated and controlled based on the law.
- Ensure that online gambling activities carried out under this license are fair, honest, and responsible.
- To ensure that online gambling from the jurisdiction of Kahnawake is not associated with criminality and crime.
- To ensure that players playing in casinos with the Kahnawake license are treated fairly. They ensure that players’ information and activities at the online casinos are kept confidential.
- They protect minors (persons under 18 years) and other vulnerable persons from the dangers of online gambling
Kahnawake Gaming Commission casinos are checked from time to time to confirm fairness, transparency, and excellent customer service. Kahnawake gaming commission complaints are thoroughly investigated and recorded. The commission takes action in cases where a player claims to have been wronged. For instance, when a player is not paid his/her winnings, when a player’s account is suddenly closed, or when players complain about the fairness of games in the casino.
Operators with a Kahnawake casino license are expected to be open to these investigations. This gives both the casino operator and the player peace of mind.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission Licenses
The commission gives four types of licenses to casino operators, they are:
- Interactive Gaming Licences
- Client Provider Authorisation
- Inter-Jurisdictional Authorisation
- Key Person Permit
Responsible Gaming
Like we mentioned earlier, Kahnawake Gaming Commission cares for players in its jurisdiction hence the provision of a self-exclusion list. There is a detailed self-exclusion request form that players who need help with their gambling habits can fill to get the care they need. Players can request a 1- year, 5- year, or lifetime ban on gambling. This form is only functional in Kahnawake Gaming Commission casinos. This is something you will not find with most casino licensing bodies.
Approved Agents
Kahnawake Gaming Commission works with third-party organizations called the ‘Approved Agents’ to aid them. The approved agents are auditors and consultants who give professional assistance in licensing and controlling online casinos. The four third party organizations listed on the website are
- eCOGRA
- Gaming Associates
- iTech Labs
- Technical Systems Testing (TST)
These four organizations work in different capacities to ensure one end goal: that the casinos licensed by the Commission are fair, safe, and trustworthy. TST ensures that casino sites are not hacked by identity thieves, eCOGRA publishes the RTPs of the casinos monthly, iTech tests and certifies online gaming systems and games, and Gaming Associates also certifies online gaming systems.
Conclusion
Kahnawake Gaming Commission, one of the earliest online licensing organizations has proved itself trustworthy. They have provided a great interactive environment for online casinos and players. Look out for their logo when signing up on a North American casino.
