Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC)
Just outside of Montreal, Canada, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River resides an 8,000 strong community of Mohawk (North American Indian) people. It is known as Kahnawake, and is home to the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission is responsible for licensing and regulating all gaming and gaming related activities which operate from the Kahnawake territory.
The Kahnawake license is a popular choice for new businesses as it is less expensive and relatively easy to acquire in comparison to other jurisdictions.
What is the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and what does it do?
The commission was originally established on June 10, 1996, making it one of the oldest regulators in the world, and first introduced regulations governing interactive gaming on July 8, 1999, in accordance with section 35 of the Kahnawake Gaming Law.
The regulations are designed to ensure that all interactive gaming and gaming related activities carried out within or from the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake smeet several basic criteria, namely:
- to provide a lawful basis for the regulation and control of interactive gaming based in or offered from within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake
- to ensure that interactive gaming is conducted responsibly, fairly and honestly
- to prevent interactive gaming from being associated in any way with crime or criminality
- to ensure that the operators of interactive games treat players fairly; that they pay winners promptly and that all information related to player accounts is held in the strictest confidence
- to protect persons under the age of eighteen (18) years and other vulnerable persons
Various types of online gambling are regulated in the Kahnawake licensed casinos, including poker, casino and sportsbook betting.
The KGC also has the ability to appoint third-party "Approved Agents" to help it to carry out functions with regards to gaming sites. An example of this might be investigating an applicant's suitability to offer interactive gaming services, or the testing and auditing of a licensee to ensure that they are compliant and able to continue operating. Scout Intelligence Inc, Triton Canada Inc, Gaming Associates Europe Ltd and eCOGRA are just some of the agents approved by the KGC.
Complaints and dispute resolution
One of the requirements set out by the Commission's regulations is that there must be a process in place to address any player complaints, and this includes third-party dispute resolution. The Commission employs a full time Dispute Resolution Officer to make sure that all complaints are processed quickly and effectively.
There is no online tool for submitting a complaint, but players wishing to do so are invited to contact the Kahnawake Gaming Commission via complaints@gamingcommission.ca.
The following information must be included when submitting a complaint:
- First and last (family) name
- Date of birth
- Country of residence
- Name of the gaming website
- Member number or username
- Date the incident occurred
- Details of the complaint
It can affect the KGC's ability to help with a complaint if it has been addressed previously or is currently being addressed by a different jurisdiction or organization. The commission also advises that sharing any information about your complaint with the media or in a public forum is not recommended.
How to check a license
To verify that an operator or website has been authorised by the Commission, the KGC provides a Permit Holders list. This allows you to search for an operator or website URL and see if they are licensed and regulated by the KGC.
Responsible Gambling
The KGC promotes responsible gambling by making sure that each online casino offers a minimum amount of tools and resources to players. For example, players must have the ability to be able to set lmits on their play. Players are made aware that if they would like to limit the amount of money they deposit or time they spend playing on any interactive gaming site, they should contact that site directly to find out how to do so. If a casino should allow you to exceed any limits you have set, you should advise the commission immediately so that they can act accordingly.
To self-exclude from a particular website, the player should contact the support of the site concerned.
It is also possible for a player to exclude themselves from all sites licensed and regulated by the commission. To do so, they must download and complete a Comprehensive Self-Exclusion Request Form from the website.
Once this form has been completed and submitted to the Commission, your request will be verified and put into effect. Once active, it is permanent and irrevocable.
Contact Information
Kahnawake Gaming Commission
Address: P.O. Box 1799, Old Malone Highway, Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, QC J0L 1B0
Tel: +1 450 635-1076
E-mail: info@gamingcommission.ca
Website: https://www.gamingcommission.ca/
