Kahnawake Poker May Force Quebec to Change

Three poker dens have been operating semi-legally in Kahnawake since 2007, and now a showdown could be on the horizon between Quebec and the Mohawk territory, according to a recent report in the Montreal Gazette.

According to the report, many of the dens' patrons had no idea that the legal status of the establishments were even an issue, however all that could be about to change with the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, which earns millions from licensing and hosting online gambling, aiming for Quebec to legally recognize its gambling authority.

Until now, local companies Mohawk Internet Technologies and Continent 8 Technologies have benefited financially from agreements with regulators in Malta, Antigua and other jurisdictions around the world in which gambling companies are based. In turn their success is worth more than $4 million in annual payments to the Mohawk Council.

However, the uncertain legal status of some of its operations has prevented the companies and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission from being approved by other foreign governments, including the UK, and thus hindered their earning potential.

Part of the current problem between the two parties is that the aforementioned gambling dens are seen to conflict with the gambling operations of the state-run Loto Quebec, which operates lotteries, casino and bingo.

But according to the report in the Gazette, the Mohawk Council made an announcement in late September that it was meeting with representatives for the province in an effort to reach some sort of agreement.

For more on online gambling in Canada, visit Online Casino Reports Canada.