Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke files legal action against Ontario

(MOHAWK TERRITORY OF KAHNAWÀ:KE – December 1, 2022)—On November 28, 2022, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (the “MCK”) filed an Application in the Ontario Superior Court against iGaming Ontario and the Attorney General of Ontario. The Application challenges the legality and constitutionality of Ontario’s unilateral re-interpretation of the “conduct and manage” provisions of the Criminal Code on which Ontario has based its new iGaming scheme.

The Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission (the “KGC”) is empowered by and enforces the Kahnawà:ke Gaming Law, enacted by the MCK in 1996. As one of the first jurisdictions in the world to license and regulate online gaming, Kahnawà:ke has been a pioneer in this space for over 25 years. Kahnawà:ke’s jurisdiction to conduct, facilitate and regulate gaming from and within its Territory is an inherent Indigenous right and does not rely on the approval of any other jurisdiction or agency. The KGC has created a robust, fair, and well-respected gaming regime and will continue to set high standards for online gaming regulation.

The Application filed by MCK does not name the KGC as a party and has no impact on the KGC’s operations.

For more information about the Application, please see the following Press Release issued on behalf of the MCK.

About Kahnawà:ke

The Mohawk Territory of Kahnawà:ke is a sovereign jurisdiction located just outside Montréal, Québec, Canada. The KGC was established in 1996 and has been continuously licensing and regulating online and land-based gaming within Kahnawà:ke since that time.

For more information about the Commission, go to: www.gamingcommission.ca.
To contact the Commission, email: info@gamingcommission.ca.

Download PDF here.