Kahnawake Chief Opposes Quebec Online Gambling Report

A working group appointed by the Quebec provincial government has suggested the liberalization of online gambling in its report published on November 6, 2014. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake has reacted adversely to these recommendations, because of its claim on the rights to offer Internet gambling services in the region. The already acrimonious stand between the Mohawk Council and the provincial government is likely to escalate.

The Working Group on Online Gambling recommended that the Criminal Code of Canada be amended to enable Quebec and the other Canadian provinces to issue online gambling licenses to private operators. The Working Group was established by the Quebec provincial government shortly after the launch of Loto-Quebec’s 'Espacejeux' online gaming site. The report is titled “Online Gambling: When the Reality of the Virtual Catches Up with Us” and points out that online gambling already exists in Canada and it is futile to ignore it. Harnessing it is the best way to move forward.

Grand Chief Michael Ahra¬hron Delisle released a statement on behalf of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake. He pointed out that the gambling laws have been unfair to the indigenous people right from the beginning. In 1985 the Criminal Code was amended to delegate authority over gaming from the federal government to the provinces. At that time the First Nations were not consulted and their inherent rights to participate in the gaming industry were ignored. Delisle said that this was a clear breach of the Crown's fiduciary duty to Aboriginal Peoples and its redressal has never been seriously tackled.

Coming to the present, Delisle adds that the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake strongly opposes any amendment to the Criminal Code and subsequent issue of online gambling licenses to private operators. First of all the Canadian federal government and the Quebec provincial government must acknowledge the inherent right of First Nations to fully participate in the gaming industry.

The Grand Chief proposed that it is time to shed the adversarial position of the past. He said that the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake once again reiterates its willingness to sit across the table with the Quebec government to resolve outstanding jurisdictional differences and work together to create a safe, fair and equitable gaming environment in the province.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission is a regulatory body established by the Mohawk Council that licenses online casinos servicing Canadian punters. One of these, Aztec Riches, is especially recommended by Canadian Casino Sites.

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