Frequently Asked Questions

Kahnawake is a community of approximately 8,000 Mohawk (North American Indian) persons located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, 20 minutes from Montréal, Canada. The Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake presently occupies approximately 20 square miles.

To see a map of the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, click here.

To read an article entitled “Kahnawake” written by Murray Marshall, the Commission’s General Counsel, and published in the Fifth Edition of Internet Gambling Report, click here.

The Mohawks of Kahnawake have consistently and historically asserted sovereignty and jurisdiction over their territory. They have never been defeated in battle and have never entered into a treaty with any government that waives or diminishes their sovereignty.

The Commission’s authority to license and regulate gaming is a facet of the sovereign rights Kahnawake has as a community of indigenous peoples to govern its own affairs. In 2007, the Commission’s authority was favourably considered in a decision rendered by the Superior Court of Québec.

For more information about the history of Kahnawake click here.

To read an article entitled “A Compelling Case for the Mohawks of Kahnawake to Conduct, Facilitate and Regulate All Forms of Gaming on its Lands and for the Creation of a Framework for Aboriginal Gaming in Canada” written by Morden C. Lazarus, Lazarus Charbonneau, Attorneys, click here.

In 1985, Canada sold its jurisdiction to “conduct and manage” gaming to the Provinces of Canada for $100,000,000. A copy of the actual 1985 Agreement is posted here.

The Commission was established on June 10, 1996 pursuant to the provisions of the Kahnawake Gaming Law (MCR No. 26 / 1996-97).

The Commission has been continuously licensing and regulating online gaming since July 8, 1999 – the date on which the Commission enacted its Regulations concerning Interactive Gaming – longer than almost any other jurisdiction in the world.

The Commission is empowered to license and regulate gaming and gaming related activities conducted within and from the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake in accordance with the highest principles of honesty and integrity.

The Commission is comprised of three members appointed for two year terms by the Commission’s governing body, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake.

The Commission fulfills its mandate using a combination of in-house personnel, Approved Agents and other professionals that are retained to provide specific advice and services. Click here for a diagram of the Commission’s operational structure.

The Commission licenses and regulates interactive gaming, terrestrial poker rooms, electronic gaming devices and raffles conducted within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake.

Pursuant to its Regulations concerning Electronic Gaming Devices, the Commission licenses and regulates within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake.

Pursuant to its Regulations concerning Interactive Gaming, the Commission licenses and regulates various types of interactive gaming, including: casino, poker and sportsbook.

Pursuant to its Regulations concerning Poker Rooms, the Commission licenses and regulates territorial poker rooms that are located within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake.

Pursuant to its Regulations concerning Raffles (enacted November 9, 2011; to come into force on January 1, 2012), the Commission authorizes raffles offering a Prize over $5,000.00 that are conducted by Eligible Organizations within Kahnawake.

The Commission licenses and regulates four (3) land-based poker rooms.

To view a list of licensed and regulated poker rooms - Click here

NOTE THAT the Commission is presently not receiving applications for land-based poker rooms.

The approved games that may be offered in any poker room that is licensed and regulated by the Commission are:

(a) Hold’Em;
(b) Omaha;
(c) Omaha High-Low;
(d) Seven Card Stud;
(e) Razz (Seven Card Stud Low);
(f) Seven Card Stud High-Low;
(g) Lowball;
(h) Draw High;
(i) Chinese Poker.

Yes.  The Commission will assist any person who wishes to exclude themselves from a land-based poker room. 

To download an English copy of the Comprehensive Self Exclusion Request:  Click here  For the French version:  Click here

Forms are also available at any licensed poker room in Kahnawake.

All requests for Self-Exclusion are processed on a priority basis.  Once self-excluded, a player is  not permitted to play in any land-based poker room licensed and regulated by the Commission for a minimum period of 6 months.

Questions, complaints and requests for information are received and reviewed by the Commission in accordance with the procedures set out in Regulations, and where appropriate, with the assistance of professional advisors.

Any complaints about a gaming site licensed and regulated by the Commission should be directed in writing to the Commission at the mailing address, fax number or email address given below - or by emailing complaints@gamingcommission.ca. The Commission is committed to responding to all complaints promptly. Every attempt will be made to facilitating appropriate solutions between complainants and licensees.

For general inquiries: info@gamingcommission.ca

To register a complaint about an interactive gaming site licensed by the Commission: complaints@gamingcommission.ca

For all other communications:
Mailing Address
Kahnawake Gaming Commission
P.O. Box 1799
Old Malone Highway
Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, QC J0L 1B0
CANADA

Telephone
+1 450 635 1076

Fax
+1 450 635 1139

 

The Regulations were developed in response to complaints and concerns that were submitted to the Commission and to the Mohawk Council about unregulated raffles being conducted within Kahnawake.  It was decided that there was a need to establish a clear set of rules that would apply to raffles offered within the community – to ensure that raffles were conducted fairly and that proceeds from raffles were used for the benefit of community-based organizations.

The Commission met with the Mohawk Council on several occasions to obtain guidance and to review various drafts of the Regulations.

The Regulations were enacted by the Commission on November 9, 2011 and came into effect on January 1, 2012.

Every person and organization within Kahnawake, including the Kahnawake Social Clubs.  The Regulations do not apply to organizations outside of Kahnawake.

The Regulations apply only to raffles – they do NOT apply to lotteries, 50/50 draws or sports pools.  The Regulations define “Raffle” as a game where Tickets are sold for a chance to win a Prize (which can be money or an item of value).  Winners are determined by drawing a random Ticket or by a random selection of numbers.

Yes.  Raffles offered by individual Kahnawakeró:non are exempt if the total value of the Prize (or Prizes) is less than $1,000.  Raffles offered by Eligible Organizations are exempt if the total value of the Prize (or Prizes) is less than $5,000.

Only Eligible Organizations can obtain an authorization to conduct a raffle within Kahnawake.   

The Regulations defines “Eligible Organization” as “an organization operating in Kahnawake that is recognized by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake and the Commission as an organization that operates on a non-profit basis and that has as its primary purpose a sporting, cultural, charitable or community-oriented objective.  For greater certainty, an individual, group of individuals or organization whose primary objective is to operate a Raffle is not an Eligible Organization”.

An application for Raffle Authorization, and all related forms, are available online at www.gamingcommission.ca or at the offices of the Commission at the Kahnawake Office Complex, 2006 Old Malone Highway, Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, J0L 1B0.

The Commission’s website:  www.gamingcommission.ca or at the Commission’s offices.

Questions, complaints and requests for information are received and reviewed by the Commission in accordance with the procedures set out in Regulations, and where appropriate, with the assistance of professional advisors.

Any complaints about a raffle that has been authorized by the Commission should be directed in writing to the Commission at the mailing address, fax number or email address given below - or by emailing complaints@gamingcommission.ca. The Commission is committed to responding to all complaints promptly. Every attempt will be made to facilitating appropriate solutions between the parties.

For general inquiries: info@gamingcommission.ca

To register a complaint about any raffle that is authorized by the Commission: complaints@gamingcommission.ca

For all other communications:

Mailing Address
Kahnawake Gaming Commission
P.O. Box 1799
Old Malone Highway
Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, QC J0L 1B0
CANADA

Telephone
+1 450 635 1076

Fax
+1 450 635 1139