Kahnawake Gaming Commission Online Casino Regulations and Licensing
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) was established back in 1996, and it issued its first gambling license three years later. Located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River near Montréal, Quebec, the Commission has the power to license and regulate gaming both online and offline.
The company offers five license types, covers many markets, doesn’t charge corporate tax or gambling tax, and the license fees are relatively low. All these perks have led to the KGC becoming a favorite regulatory body of many brands.
- Jurisdiction: Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- Website: https://www.gamingcommission.ca/
- Address: P.O. Box 1799, Route 138, Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, Quebec, J0L 1B0, Canada
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +1 450 635 1076
- Founded: 1996
- Register an Online Casino Complaint: [email protected]
- Rating:
What Is the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and How Does It Work?
The KGC provides licenses to many online casinos across the world, helping to ensure players are protected when choosing a site to join. A platform holding a license from Kahnawake can be considered trustworthy, as it has certain gaming regulations that need adhering to due to this.
Licenses of this nature also ensure fair gaming is in place at online casinos. Operators of casino sites can be held accountable for the services they provide. They must comply with the rules of their license from the KGC to ensure they provide legitimate gambling operations. Players need to feel safe, secure and protected within the environment they are gaming in.
The Commission works to provide this kind of setup at live online casinos. Operators agree to the rules and regulations when applying for a license from the KGC.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission Licence Requirements
To apply for a license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, an operator needs to meet certain requirements. An application must be submitted by the operator seeking out a license. There are also KGC application fees to submit before the Commission can process such. The required fees include $40,000 for the estimated cost of completing due diligence and the first annual licensing fee. The Key Person Licence Application fee is an extra $5,000 for each proposed key person.
The documents required when applying for a license from Kahnawake include not only the general application but also the following paperwork:
- Application for Client Provider Authorisation (CPA) – identifies the business entity applying for the CPA.
- Business Entity Information Form – Completed on behalf of the business entity applying for the CPA.
- Personal Information Form – Completed by each director, each shareholder with 10% or more ownership and each person who submits a Key Person Licence Application Form.
- Key Person Licence Application Form – To be completed by each of the applicant’s Key Persons. It should include the personal information of each of the proposed and a letter from the proposed license holder addressed to the KGC to confirm the existence of the key relationship.
- Control System Submission – Unless otherwise directed in writing by the Commission. Completed to identify the types of games offered, where the business intends to operate, the gaming brands used, and so on.
How to Contact and Send Complaints to the Gambling Regulator
If you ever need to complain about a business with a KGC license, then you are free to do this here. It may be important to know what you can complain about where online gambling businesses are concerned. The Commission’s primary function is to provide protection for players who choose to participate in online gaming provided by licensed brands.
Not only that, but the Commission regulations provide several dispute-resolution mechanisms to address player complaints. This includes the potential for third-party arbitration.
If you believe that an online gambling brand that holds a KGC license is operating against the rules of its license, or you are having withdrawal or other casino payment method issues, you can complain about it. Prior to contacting the regulatory body, you should try resolving the issues with the casino itself. Should you be unable to get a satisfactory solution worked out this way, you can proceed with complaining to the licensing body.
The Commission will only investigate cases where it is clear you have already tried resolving the problem via the casino site itself first. Timeframes for investigations into companies can be lengthy as well, so be prepared for that. It all depends upon the nature of your complaint to the KGC.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission - Types of Licences
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission has four licenses, but it only issues three under the Regulations Concerning Interactive Gaming. This is because the Interactive Gaming Licence (IGL) is held by Mohawk Internet Technologies. Only a single IGL can be issued at any given time, and Mohawk Internet Technologies has held the sole one of these since 1999.
Other than that, the three different licenses that the KGC offers are:
- Client Provider Authorisation (CPA) – Covering interactive gaming services from the hosting facility within Kahnawake. For standard iGaming providers who want to base their operations within the territory of Kahnawake. Anyone holding this license is known as an Authorised Client Provider (ACP).
- Casino Software Provider Authorisation (CSPA) – Holders can locate and operate interactive gaming equipment at a facility owned and operated by the IGL.
- Key Person Permit (KPP) – A minimum of one person can secure such a license to oversee a managerial or operational function for a business holding a CPA license.
How to Find Out If a Casino Is Licensed by this Regulator
If you’re not sure about the status of an online casino where its license and regulation are concerned, you can seek out specific information from it to confirm this. First of all, a platform holding licenses from UKGC, Kahnawake, and MGA will often display the seal of the brand on its site.
That seal will also usually come with a few details about the company’s license number with the KGC, as well as a link to the official Kahnawake Gaming Commission website. Those stamps of approval from the regulatory body should provide you with the confirmation needed.
Yet, if you are still unsure or if the seal isn’t present at all, then you can search for the license via the KGC website. You can also try contacting the casino and/or Commission to verify the validity of a casino’s status.
To verify the status of a casino site, you can follow these steps:
01
Scroll down to the bottom of the casino website and find the KGC seal in the footer.
02
Visit the KGC website and click on ‘Permit Holders’ and then ‘List of Interactive Permit Holders’.
Benefits and Liabilities of the Regulator
- Low license fees for operators
- No taxes to pay – 0% corporation tax and no gambling tax
- Coverage for many markets around the world
- Kahnawake has a fantastic reputation.
- Lesser-known regulatory body than some others
- Has an average 6-month waiting period for validating and licensing applicants
Top Casinos Regulated by Kahnawake Gaming Commission
There are various casino brands regulated by the KGC. Many choose it because of its top reputation, and the legality of the regulatory body has never been challenged in any way, either. Despite this, it does remain a lesser-known license provider in comparison to some others, so there isn’t a huge number of casinos holding such a license.
That being said, KGC has overseen the return of more money to players than any other authority, and it is ideal for brands because it doesn’t charge any tax.
FAQ
How Much Does a Kahnawake Gaming Commission Licence Cost?
For Client Provider Authorisation, it costs $40,000 + $5,000 for each proposed Key Person Licence Application.
How Long Does an Operator Have to Wait for Their Kahnawake Gaming Commission Licence?
An application is usually processed within 4-8 weeks, but it can take up to six months for a full, valid license to be issued.
What Type of Licence Does an Online Casino Need from the KGC?
Three different license types exist that the KGC can issue, but an online casino start-up requires a Client Provider Authorisation (CPA) and a minimum of one Key Person Permit (KPP).
How Do I Know If a Casino Is Licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission?
A casino holding a KGC license should display the brand’s seal on its website. If not, you can search for the operator via the Kahnawake Gaming Commission website and see if it is listed.
When Did the Kahnawake Gaming Commission Begin Operating?
Kahnawake Gaming Commission launched in 1996 and issued its first license in 1999.
