Kahnawake licensing

The Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission (KGC) has regulated interactive gaming since 1999 under the Regulations concerning Interactive Gaming, making it one of the longest-running online gambling regulators worldwide. The framework isn't a single licence but a set of distinct authorizations covering hosting, operators, software suppliers and live dealer studios, each with its own scope. Below: authorization types, fees, requirements, hosting rules, player protection, the application process and how to verify a permit holder. For a broader overview of gambling jurisdictions, see our casino licences section.

What Is a Kahnawà:ke Gambling Licence?

The KGC, operating from the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawà:ke, issues the licences, authorizations and permits that regulate interactive gaming based in and offered from the Territory. Rather than one generic "casino licence," an operator typically holds a Client Provider Authorization plus a Key Person Permit for at least one responsible individual, hosted through the Territory's approved facility.

Feature	Details
Regulator	Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission
Jurisdiction	Mohawk Territory of Kahnawà:ke
Online Gaming Regulation	Since 1999
Main Operator Authorization	Client Provider Authorization
Hosting Requirement	Yes
Public Permit Holder List	Yes
Player Protection	Yes
AML/CFT Rules	Yes

Types of Kahnawà:ke Gaming Licences and Authorizations

Interactive Gaming Licence (IGL)

The IGL is issued to the approved hosting facility itself, not to individual operators. Only one IGL exists at any time, and Mohawk Internet Technologies has held it since the framework began in 1999.

Client Provider Authorization (CPA)

A CPA allows an approved entity hosted under the IGL to offer interactive gaming services such as online casino, poker and sportsbook. The holder must be hosted at the IGL facility, and there's no limit on how many CPAs can exist.

Casino Software Provider Authorization (CSPA)

A CSPA is for software providers rather than operators. It permits locating and running interactive gaming equipment at the hosting facility and licensing casino software to third-party operators — on its own, it doesn't authorise offering games directly to players.

Live Dealer Studio Authorization (LDSA)

An LDSA authorises operating a live dealer studio and conducting live dealer games and related approved activities from premises within Kahnawà:ke.

Key Person Licence

Every CPA or CSPA holder needs at least one Key Person Permit for an individual performing managerial or operational functions, based on a personal suitability assessment separate from the corporate one.

Hosting Requirements

Hosting is one of the framework's defining features, not a general rule about server location. KGC-licensed operators must be hosted at Mohawk Internet Technologies, a data centre within the Territory managed by Continent 8 Technologies. A CPA holder must specifically use the IGL-holding facility — not any Canadian data centre, but this one designated site under Commission oversight.

Kahnawà:ke Gambling Licence Costs and Fees

Current 2026 figures, by authorization type:

Authorization	Application Fee	Annual Fee
Client Provider Authorization (CPA)	US$35,000 (includes year one)	US$20,000
Key Person Permit	US$5,000 (includes year one)	US$1,000
Interactive Gaming Licence (IGL)	US$30,000	US$15,000
Live Dealer Studio Authorization (LDSA)	US$25,000	US$10,000
Casino Software Provider Authorization (CSPA)	US$35,000	US$20,000 + US$3,000 per licensed third-party operator

New fees take effect 1 January 2027: a CPA application rising to US$40,000, a five-year CPA renewal at US$40,000 including the annual fee, and a Key Person application at US$6,000 — but these aren't current 2026 pricing yet.

How to Apply for a Kahnawà:ke CPA

The KGC publishes separate application forms for a CPA, Key Person Permit, control systems, CSPA and LDSA.

1. Prepare the business entity information.
2. Submit the CPA application.
3. Provide personal information for relevant owners, controllers and key persons.
4. Complete criminal record consent and due diligence forms.
5. Submit control system documentation.
6. Pay the applicable application fee.
7. Complete suitability and compliance review.
8. Arrange approved hosting at the IGL-holding facility.
9. Obtain any required Key Person Licence.
10. Receive approval before offering interactive gaming.

The KGC doesn't publish a fixed universal approval time, so a guaranteed turnaround shouldn't be assumed.

Kahnawà:ke Gambling Licence Requirements

Beyond the application itself, the Commission reviews these areas before and after authorization is granted:

• Business structure, ownership and controllers
• Personal suitability and criminal background for key individuals
• Financial capability
• Technical competence and control systems covering the operation
• Hosting compliance and reporting, continuing for as long as the authorization is held

The KGC appoints Approved Agents to carry out suitability investigations, technical testing, audits, control system reviews and compliance monitoring on its behalf, rather than handling every check internally.

Player Protection and AML/CFT

The Regulations set out principles operators must meet: fair and honest gaming with control systems against collusion and fraud, prompt payment of winnings, strict confidentiality of player account information, and protection of underage and vulnerable persons. Operators need complaint procedures, and the Commission can review gaming records directly if a player isn't satisfied with an operator's response. AML/CFT compliance sits alongside these duties as part of the same ongoing regulatory relationship, not a one-time check at licensing. Players should still review available payment methods, withdrawal limits and processing conditions at the specific casino.

How to Verify a Kahnawà:ke Gambling Licence

Verification relies on the KGC's own published records, not a badge alone. Start with the Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission Permit Holders list, which shows every current authorization holder.

1. Find the casino's legal operator name.
2. Open the official KGC Permit Holders page.
3. Search for the operator.
4. Check whether it holds a CPA, CSPA or another authorization.
5. Compare the listed URL with the casino's actual domain.
6. Click the KGC logo on the casino website, if shown.
7. Confirm the Logo Certificate resolves to the KGC's own validation system.

Kahnawà:ke Licence vs MGA Licence

The two regulators are built around different structures.

Feature	Kahnawà:ke	MGA
Regulator	KGC	Malta Gaming Authority
Main Operator Authorization	CPA	B2C Gaming Service Licence
Hosting Requirement	Specific Kahnawà:ke hosting model	Different technical framework
Public Register	Yes	Yes
AML/CFT	Yes	Yes
Player Protection	Yes	Yes

Kahnawà:ke ties an operator's authorization directly to one designated hosting facility, while MGA licenses operators under its own B2C/B2B framework without that single-facility requirement. Both maintain public registers and require ongoing compliance; neither structure is inherently stronger.

Kahnawà:ke Licence vs Curaçao Licence

Kahnawà:ke authorises through its IGL/CPA/CSPA/LDSA structure with one approved hosting facility for all operators, while Curaçao licenses directly through the Curaçao Gaming Authority, without that single-facility model. Both run their own application and compliance processes with public verification, but the technical requirements and licensing structure differ substantially. More information about the current Curaçao framework is available in our Curaçao casino licence guide.

Kahnawà:ke Gambling Licence FAQ

What is a Kahnawà:ke gambling licence?

Authorisation from the Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission to conduct interactive gaming, typically a Client Provider Authorization plus a Key Person Permit, hosted at the Territory's approved facility.

Who regulates online gambling in Kahnawà:ke?

The Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission, which has regulated interactive gaming since 1999 under the Regulations concerning Interactive Gaming.

What is a Client Provider Authorization?

The main operator authorization, letting a company hosted under the Interactive Gaming Licence offer services such as casino, poker and sportsbook to players.

How much does a Kahnawà:ke gambling licence cost?

A CPA currently costs US$35,000 to apply, including the first year, then US$20,000 annually. A Key Person Permit is US$5,000 to apply and US$1,000 a year, with new fees announced from 1 January 2027.

How can I verify a Kahnawà:ke casino licence?

Check the operator's legal name against the KGC's Permit Holders page, confirm the authorization type, and verify any KGC logo through the Commission's Logo Certificate system.