MCK addresses developments in Online Gaming industry

04/19/2011

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that it is aware of the recent developments in the online gaming industry that have seen several online poker companies receive indictments issued from the South District of New York. One of the companies, Absolute Poker, is a licensee of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (“Commission”).

The MCK is working with the Commission to review and analyze these developments, which may have widespread implications.

“The actions are being taken primarily in the area of banking and payment processing – the actual gaming activities are secondary,” said Grand Chief Michael Ahríhron Delisle, Jr. “While charges have been announced, no one has been convicted of any wrongdoing.”

“We need to remind the community that any and all licensees operating under the authority of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission are aware that they must obey the laws of the jurisdictions in which they operate,” he continued.

The MCK enacted the Kahnawake Gaming Law in 1996. The community has since become one of the world leaders in the I-gaming industry. Last year, the community received a dividend of $1.7 million from its licensing operations.