Kahnawake Gaming Commission Licence Explained
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission has licensed online casinos and poker rooms since 1996 and is especially relevant for Canadian players. Here is how it works and what its licence means.
About the Kahnawake Gaming Commission
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) was established in 1996 by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, a First Nations territory near Montreal, Quebec. It was one of the first bodies in the world to license online gambling, and many operators have hosted their servers in Kahnawake. Its licences are common among casinos that serve Canadian players outside Ontario.
What a Kahnawake Licence Means
- Regulatory standards on fairness, security and responsible gambling.
- Complaint process – players can submit disputes to the Commission.
- Long history – one of the oldest online gambling regulators.
- Canadian focus – particularly relevant outside Ontario's regulated market.
Players in Ontario should look for casinos registered with iGaming Ontario. See our best Canadian casinos for more.
How to Check a Casino's Licence
- Scroll to the casino's footer and find the licence number and the name of the company that holds it.
- Open the regulator's official website and search its public register for that number or company.
- Make sure the licence is active and that the casino's domain is listed under it.
- Be wary of logos that link nowhere or to pages that are not on the regulator's own website.
Kahnawake and Ontario
When Ontario opened its regulated iGaming market in 2022, operators wanting to serve Ontario players had to register with iGaming Ontario and the AGCO. Kahnawake-licensed operators serving other provinces continue to operate in a grey area under federal law, while Ontario players are directed towards registered sites.
How to File a Complaint With the KGC
- Contact the casino first and give it a chance to resolve the issue.
- Gather evidence such as chat logs, emails and screenshots.
- Submit a complaint through the Commission's official website.
- The Commission reviews the complaint and contacts the operator.