Mohawks Respond to Internet Gaming Decision

01/15/2008

Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke Grand Chief Michael Ahríhrhon Delisle, Jr. announced today that he is extremely disappointed with a decision made by the United Kingdom’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport, which has failed to include Kahnawá:ke on it’s list of jurisdictions whose Internet gaming permit holders are allowed to advertise in the U.K.

“Given Kahnawá:ke’s long-standing reputation as the world leader in Internet regulatory compliance and enforcement, it is disheartening to receive word that the Kahnawá:ke Mohawk Territory’s efforts will not be afforded the same consideration that has been extended to Tasmania, which has no such history,” said Chief Delisle.

“Despite having been the first jurisdiction to accept and implement the world-recognized eCOGRA standard, the implementation of a mandatory continuous compliance policy, and our consistent enforcement of what may very well be the world’s most stringent due diligence program, our name has not been added to the U.K.’s exclusive white list,” he continued.

“Kahnawá:ke has concerns regarding the process undertaken by the U.K. authority and has initiated inquiries to ascertain whether the application was afforded fair and objective consideration-which, at this point, we do not believe was the case.

“We are keenly disappointed in the U.K.’s decision, which ignores the long-standing alliance between our Nations.

We also find it deeply troubling that the actions of our old friends directly conflict with the commitments they made in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to which the UK was a signatory in September, 2007. We are seeking advice as to Kahnawá:ke’s potential recourses against the UK under Article 20 of the Declaration, which states:

1. Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and develop their political, economic and social systems or institutions, to be secure in the enjoyment of their own means of subsistence and development, and to engage freely in all their traditional and other economic activities.

2. Indigenous peoples deprived of their means of subsistence and development are entitled to just and fair redress.

Despite this setback, the Mohawks of Kahnawá:ke will remain committed to our established leadership role on the front lines of regulatory enforcement of the Internet gaming industry. We will continue to ensure an environment where fairness, integrity and player protection are paramount.