Overview
The Kahnawake gaming license is issued by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC), one of the oldest and most established iGaming regulators in the world. Established in 1996 within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River near Montreal, Quebec, the KGC began regulating interactive gaming in 1999 and has since authorized hundreds of online gambling operators across multiple verticals.
The jurisdiction offers a compelling combination of regulatory credibility, zero taxation on gaming revenues, and relatively low licensing costs starting at USD 40,000. Operators are required to host their servers at Mohawk Internet Technologies (MIT), the sole holder of the Interactive Gaming License within the territory. The Kahnawake license covers online casino, sports betting, poker, bingo, and lottery operations under a single Client Provider Authorization (CPA), making it a versatile and cost-effective option for operators targeting global markets.
Regulatory Framework
Regulatory Authority: The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) is the sole regulatory body responsible for licensing, supervising, and enforcing online gaming operations conducted from the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake.
Legal Foundation: The KGC derives its authority from the Kahnawake Gaming Law, enacted in 1996 by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake. The Commission operates under inherent Indigenous rights recognized by Section 35 of Canada's Constitution Act, 1982, establishing Kahnawake as a sovereign jurisdiction independent of federal or provincial gambling oversight.
Key Legislation:
- •Kahnawake Gaming Law (1996) -- Establishes the powers and mandate of the KGC
- •Regulations Concerning Interactive Gaming -- Originally enacted July 8, 1999, with the most recent revision dated January 14, 2026. Governs all interactive gaming activities within and from the Mohawk Territory
- •AML-CFT Regulations -- Enacted June 30, 2021, establishing anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations for licensees
Five Regulatory Principles: The KGC operates according to five core principles: providing a lawful basis for the regulation of interactive gaming; ensuring gaming is conducted responsibly, fairly, and honestly; preventing association with crime or criminality; requiring fair treatment of players with prompt payment of winnings; and protecting persons under 18 and other vulnerable individuals.
License Types
The Kahnawake regulatory framework provides several distinct authorization categories to accommodate different business models within the iGaming industry.
Interactive Gaming License (IGL): Issued to an approved hosting facility within Kahnawake. Only one IGL may be active at any given time. Since 1999, Mohawk Internet Technologies (MIT) has held the sole IGL, operating the co-location facility that provides internet hosting services to all authorized operators.
Client Provider Authorization (CPA): The primary B2C operator license. Issued to approved entities that provide interactive gaming services directly to players from the MIT hosting facility. There is no limit on the number of CPAs that may be issued. CPA holders are known as Authorized Client Providers (ACPs).
Casino Software Provider Authorization (CSPA): The B2B software provider license. Allows the holder to operate iGaming equipment at the MIT co-location facility and provide gaming software to third-party operators. CSPA holders are not permitted to offer games directly to customers.
Key Person License (KPL): Required for at least one individual per CPA or CSPA holder who performs managerial or operational functions. Typically issued to directors or senior managers with significant decision-making authority.
Live Dealer Studio Authorization (LDSA): A specialized authorization for operators conducting live dealer studio operations.
Capital and Financial Requirements
Kahnawake maintains a practical approach to financial requirements, with no formal statutory minimum capital threshold defined in the regulations.
Financial Stability: Applicants must demonstrate financial stability and the ability to sustain operations. While no fixed minimum share capital is mandated, industry consultants typically recommend a practical minimum of approximately USD 250,000 in available operating funds to cover infrastructure, player liabilities, and initial operational costs.
Documentation Requirements: Applicants may be required to provide up to three years of financial statements and bank references as part of the due diligence process. All sources of funding must be clearly identifiable and verified.
Player Fund Segregation: Operators must maintain player funds in segregated accounts, completely separate from operational funds. This is a mandatory ongoing obligation designed to protect player balances at all times.
Ownership Disclosure: All shareholders with 10% or more ownership or controlling interest are subject to personal information disclosure and comprehensive background checks. All directors of privately held corporations undergo the same scrutiny. Companies associated with sanctioned countries, sanctions lists, criminal records, or unverifiable income sources are ineligible.
Application Process
The KGC licensing process follows a structured multi-phase approach with a total timeline of approximately six months from initial application to full license issuance.
Phase 1 -- Application Submission (Weeks 1-2): Submit all required documentation including the License Application Form, Business Entity Information Form, Personal Information Forms for each director and shareholder with 10% or more ownership, Key Person License Application Form, and Control System Submission (Schedule I). Publicly traded corporations must also provide a list of all directors with biographies and annual reports for the past three years.
Phase 2 -- Review and Due Diligence (Weeks 3-12): The Commission conducts preliminary documentation review followed by thorough due diligence investigations lasting approximately 8 to 10 weeks. Background checks cover all key persons, directors, and significant shareholders. Verification includes sanctions list screening, criminal record checks, and confirmation of income sources. Omissions, obfuscation, or misleading information result in immediate application denial with no fee refund.
Phase 3 -- Commission Decision: Following due diligence, the Commission reviews findings and renders a decision. Total time from application to decision is approximately 8 to 12 weeks.
Phase 4 -- Preliminary 6-Month Permit: Upon approval, a CPA with a preliminary 6-month permit is issued. During this period, the operator must display the KGC logo on their website, implement HTML code for the Certificate of Good Standing, and fully establish a continuous compliance program. An approved agent conducts an audit of the Control System Submission.
Phase 5 -- Full License Issuance: After successful completion of the preliminary period and control system audit, the KGC conducts a final review and decides whether to issue the full CPA. The license is valid for 5 years from the date of full issuance.
Fees and Costs
All fees are denominated in US Dollars. The Commission raised license fees by approximately 14% in late 2023.
CPA (Client Provider Authorization) Fees:
- •Initial application fee: USD 40,000 (includes USD 15,000 for due diligence investigations, USD 20,000 for first annual licensing fee, and USD 5,000 for Key Person License application)
- •Annual renewal fee: USD 20,000
- •5-year license renewal fee: USD 5,000
- •Domain registration: USD 1,000 per newly registered domain
- •Standard annual fee covers up to 6 licensed domains; USD 500 per additional domain beyond 6
CSPA (Casino Software Provider Authorization) Fees:
- •Application fee: USD 40,000
- •Annual fee: USD 20,000
- •Additional fee: USD 3,000 per additional operator partner
LDSA (Live Dealer Studio Authorization) Fees:
- •Application fee: USD 30,000
- •Annual fee: USD 10,000
- •Renewal fee: USD 5,000
Key Person License: USD 1,000 application fee (included in initial CPA application); USD 1,000 annual renewal.
Late Payment Penalties: 10% annual penalty on overdue fees, accrued daily until full payment.
Taxation: 0% tax on gaming revenues. No corporate tax, no VAT, no capital gains tax, and no revenue-based taxes are imposed on licensed operators. This zero-taxation structure makes Kahnawake one of the most financially favorable iGaming jurisdictions globally.
Permitted Activities
A CPA license authorizes operators to offer a comprehensive range of interactive gaming products to players worldwide.
Covered Activities Under CPA:
- •Online casino games (slots, table games, RNG-based games)
- •Online poker (cash games and tournaments)
- •Sports betting and sportsbook operations
- •Bingo
- •Lotteries and lottery-style games
- •Other interactive games of chance and skill
CSPA Scope: Casino Software Provider Authorization holders may develop and supply software for all of the above verticals but are strictly prohibited from offering games directly to end consumers.
Land-Based Operations: The KGC also regulates three land-based poker rooms within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, though these operate under separate regulatory provisions.
Market Access: The Kahnawake license provides broad global market access. However, operators must comply with restricted market policies and may not accept players from jurisdictions where online gambling is explicitly prohibited or where a locally issued license is required.
Compliance and Ongoing Obligations
Server Hosting: All operators must host their gaming servers at Mohawk Internet Technologies (MIT), located within the Mohawk Territory. MIT is managed by Continent 8 Technologies, which provides co-location, managed hosting, DDoS protection, disaster recovery, and content delivery services.
Annual Obligations: Licensees must submit updated company and financial information to the KGC, pay all annual fees, renew Key Person permits, and undergo independent annual audits with regular reporting of financial performance and game audit results.
Player Protection: Operators must maintain segregated player fund accounts, implement deposit limit tools and self-exclusion mechanisms, provide links to gambling addiction resources, enforce age verification with a minimum age of 18, maintain strict confidentiality of player account information, and ensure prompt payment of all winnings. Self-exclusion is permanent and irrevocable once activated; any breach results in forfeiture of deposited and won funds to a third-party charity selected by the Commission.
Dispute Resolution: The KGC employs a full-time Dispute Resolution Officer and operates a three-tier process: initial complaint to the operator, independent third-party dispute resolution if available, and formal investigation by the KGC Dispute Resolution Officer.
AML Compliance: Full compliance with the AML-CFT Regulations enacted in 2021, including Know Your Customer procedures and transaction security measures.
Technical Standards: Gaming software must be certified, with RNG testing and certification from approved testing laboratories such as eCOGRA, GLI, or iTech Labs. Return to Player (RTP) testing and continuous compliance monitoring are mandatory.
Advantages of the Kahnawake License
Established Track Record: Operating since 1996 with interactive gaming regulation since 1999, the KGC is one of the oldest and most experienced online gaming regulators in the world with over 25 years of operational history.
Zero Taxation: No corporate tax, VAT, capital gains tax, or revenue-based taxes are levied on gaming revenues. Licensed operators retain 100% of their gross gaming revenue after operational costs and licensing fees.
Cost-Effective Entry: Total first-year costs of approximately USD 40,000 are significantly lower than comparable jurisdictions such as Malta (MGA), the United Kingdom (UKGC), or Gibraltar, making Kahnawake accessible to both established operators and emerging companies.
Relatively Fast Processing: Application review takes approximately 8 to 12 weeks, with the preliminary permit allowing operators to commence operations within roughly 3 months of application submission.
Sovereign Jurisdiction: The KGC operates under inherent Indigenous rights recognized by Section 35 of Canada's Constitution Act, 1982, functioning independently of federal or provincial gambling oversight. This provides a unique and stable regulatory environment.
Unlimited Operator Licenses: Unlike some jurisdictions that cap the number of available licenses, Kahnawake imposes no limit on the number of CPAs that may be issued.
Comprehensive Coverage: A single CPA covers all major gaming verticals including casino, sports betting, poker, bingo, and lottery without requiring separate permits for each activity.
Important Considerations
Market Acceptance Limitations: The Kahnawake license is not universally recognized across all regulated markets. Operators targeting jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, parts of the European Union, or certain US states will need to obtain additional local licenses. Some regulated markets do not accept Kahnawake-licensed operators, which may limit market reach in specific regions.
Reputation Considerations: While the KGC has a long operational history, its regulatory reputation is viewed differently across the industry. Some player advocacy groups and industry observers consider Kahnawake a mid-tier jurisdiction, particularly when compared to highly regarded regulators such as the Malta Gaming Authority or the UK Gambling Commission. Operators should assess whether the Kahnawake license aligns with their target market expectations and brand positioning strategy.
Mandatory Server Hosting: The requirement to host all gaming servers exclusively at Mohawk Internet Technologies (MIT) within the Mohawk Territory may present logistical considerations for operators accustomed to choosing their own hosting providers or data center locations. While Continent 8 Technologies provides professional management of the MIT facility, this requirement eliminates flexibility in server infrastructure decisions.
Preliminary Permit Period: The mandatory 6-month preliminary authorization period means operators must demonstrate compliance and pass a control system audit before receiving their full license. Operations may commence during this period, but the license remains conditional until the Commission grants full authorization.
Jurisdictional Complexity: Kahnawake's unique status as a sovereign Mohawk Territory within Canada creates a complex jurisdictional landscape. While the territory asserts regulatory independence, the interplay between Indigenous sovereignty, Canadian federal law, and provincial gaming regulations can present legal ambiguities that operators should evaluate with qualified legal counsel.