8 Vital and Fun Facts About Kahnawake Gaming Commission

Many sports bettors and online gamblers around BC, Canada and the world know the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) quite well. The independent casino regulatory body licenses multiple low- and top-level online casinos, online poker sites, and sportsbooks. It also controls their activities, making sure that they strictly adhere to their practice and code of conduct. KGC also oversees several land-based poker rooms found within their territory.

Having been established in 1996, the KGC is one of the oldest offline and online casino regulatory bodies still in business today. The body was set up after the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake enacted the territory's Gaming Law. In 1997, the council expanded KGC's regulatory mandate to include interactive online gambling, shortly after digital betting platforms went live on the internet in the mid-90s.

Having said that, there are several Kahnawake Gaming Commission facts you may not know. Some are in the "need-to-know" category but many fall under the "interesting-to-know" category. Since when you aren't sure if the betting house you're playing in is honest and trustworthy, you have to know where you can direct your complaints. Begin with the casino regulatory body that licensed the gambling operator.

Formation of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission

As mentioned earlier, this casino regulatory authority was founded in 1996. But it wasn't until three years later, in 1999, that the authority's interactive gambling regulations were enacted.

Having said that, the KGB board comprises no more than three members, each serving a 2-year term. Current commissioners are Mark Jocks (chairperson), Melanie Mayo, and Lori Jacobs. As expected, the commissioners are assisted by approved agents, a team of experts, and in-house staff.

Kahnawake Gaming Commission's Legality

So far, the KGC hasn't faced any serious legal action. Some legislators have moaned about their activities every now and then, causing speculation about some sort of official action. Nothing has ever materialized, though.

The Quebec law enforcement has announced investigations previously, but these didn't amount to anything. Therefore, online betting via the Kahnawake jurisdiction seems to be legit for now.

One thing going for the KGC is that no other tribe from the First Nations has sought to set up a similar body. This is quite a miracle since if tens of tribes wanted to establish their own online betting organization, this could force Canadian and British Colubia authorities to take action.

Fortunately, the tribes most likely to have sought to set up their own gambling network are in Ontario. The tribes in Kahnawake have a legal contract not to do similar. For now, it seems that the KGC has a special place in the Canadian and BC online gambling industry.

The KGC Issues Two Kinds of Licenses

While the KGC has around 29 running companies, those firms hold only CPA (Client Provider Authorization) licenses. To date, Mohawk Internet Technologies is the only firm that actually has an IGL (Interactive Gaming License).

IGLs are issued only to Mohawk-owned firms, so any other firm that seeks to offer games under a KGC license must work with the only company with an IGL license, Mohawk Internet Technologies. In theory, someone else within the Mohawk network could establish a similar firm and seek an IGL, but that's unlikely to happen.

Mohawk Internet Technologies Hosts All KGC Licensed Games

The KGC requires that firms under its umbrella host their betting sites at the web hosting company Mohawk Internet Technologies. Because the web host's data center is found in Kahnawake, the gambling regulator has the capacity to physically inspect and intervene on issues related to Mohawk Internet Technologies. Canadian law enforcement officials have also occasionally inspected the data center, but they've never interfered with its operations.

The KGC Licenses Three Brick-and-Mortar Poker Rooms

When most players spot the name Kahnawake Gaming Commission, they look it up on websites dedicated to online gambling sites and offering BC-friendly casino bonuses. But Kahnawake's Mohawk Territory boasts three gambling companies licensed by KGC. They include Playground Poker Club, Snake's Poker Club, and VIP Poker Enterprises. All poker rooms are located in the Mohawk Territory.

The KGC Partners with Other Tribes

The KGC is open to working on gambling deals with other tribes. In fact, the Santa Ysabel people of California have been issued with a third type of license (an Inter-jurisdictional Authorization license) for a poker website. However, the community has faced legal action in California over its betting operations.

Kahnawake Official Logo

The KGC requires all online casinos under its license to have the authority's official logo displayed clearly. This is a strong indication that the gambling website is certified and safe. To find out if a specific sportsbook or BC online casino is licensed by the KGC, scroll to the bottom of the site's homepage and click on the KGC logo. Here, you'll find logos of other licensing authorities, payment methods, and software providers.

Dispute Resolution

The KGC boasts an impressive record of expertly resolving disputes between gamblers and gambling companies. The regulatory authority works with everyone involved to reach a fair and timely resolution. Based on the case in question, the KGC can hire a full-time agent to look into the matter and resolve it.