An indigenous council is taking the Ontario government to court over changes to online gaming.
In the application filed on Monday against iGaming The Mohawk Council of Ontario and the Attorney General of Ontario, Kahnawake, allege the changes are “illegal and unconstitutional” and causing a “significant” revenue loss to its community.
Mohawks of Kahnawa are part of Mohawk Nation Spread over parts of Quebec, Ontario and the northeastern United States, and the council behind the legal action is an elected organization that provides government services to the community.
Kahnawa:ke has been licensing online gaming for 25 years, and the council argues that its subsidiary – Mohawk Online Ltd. – is now shut out of the Ontario gaming market because it hasn’t introduced the new provincial gaming framework.
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The attorney general’s ministry said it was reviewing the notice of application. None of the allegations have been proved in court.
IGaming Ontario, the provincially regulated online gaming marketplace, was launched in April, making Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada to allow people to play casino games, sports and online games via smartphone apps from online websites and registered third-party operators. Allows betting on events and other gambling activities.
Mohawk Council of Kahanawa: Kay argues that iGaming Ontario cannot operate or manage gaming that occurs on private operators’ sites.
The council says the decision to take iGaming Ontario and the Attorney General of Ontario to court was a “last resort”.
“Ontario’s actions are causing a significant loss of revenue vital to our community,” Ratsenhainh’s (elected council chief) Mike Delisle, Jr. wrote in a news release.
“Until these actions were taken, we were operating legally, safely and successfully across Canada. To be kicked out of Ontario – by far the largest province in Canada – would have a devastating impact on the source of income that has supplemented programs and services in our community for the last two decades.
The MCK said it is concerned the province’s change to online gaming “disregards the expertise and rights of First Nations to operate and regulate safe and responsible gaming.”
“MCK has facilitated, operated and safely regulated gaming activities on behalf of the Mohawks of Kahnawake for decades,” it wrote. “This new regime ignores their expertise in the gaming sector, and will result in the loss of significant revenue to the community of Kahwakee.”
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