No Net gambling, Cree band told -- Canada

**Mousey** · 7th March 2007, 01:15 AM

I didn't know that the web hosting services for internet casinos was considered illegal in Canada?

Honestly... the more I try to read and understand about online gaming, the more confused I become.

Link for this story is HERE

No Net gambling, Cree band told
Canadian Press

EDMONTON � Alberta's top cop is warning a Cree band to halt plans to set up an Internet gambling haven on their reserve near Edmonton.

Solicitor General Fred Lindsay also says he's become aware that the Mohawks, who run illegal gambling operations in Quebec, have been advising the Alexander First Nation.

Lindsay says he has no intention of allowing the Alberta band to copy the Mohawks, who operate a Web hosting company to facilitate more than 400 Internet gambling sites around the world.

"We understand that the Mohawks may be giving Alexander some advice on how to set it up," he said Tuesday. "I'm not intending on letting it get away on us."

The Alexander band has set up a web hosting company identical to one operated by the Mohawks. The Alberta band has also established its own gaming commission to offer online gaming licences, with application fees starting at $20,000 (U.S.).

"We're indicating to them to cease and desist if it is their intent to conduct an illegal operation in the province of Alberta," Linsday told reporters.

Officials with the Alexander band did not return phone calls, but have said in past that they view themselves as a sovereign nation with the power to offer gaming licences.

Lindsay says he's not aware that the band has actually set up any Internet gambling sites, so at this point the province's gaming commission is continuing its investigation.

"Anybody who goes against the Criminal Code of Canada would end up being a lawbreaker," he said. "Right now, in regard to Alexander, they've indicated intent to do that, so we're investigating it."

**Mousey** · 7th March 2007, 12:26 PM

Just rambling around.... So, Canadian authorities regard the Mohawk's Kahnawake servers as illegal?

Perhaps someone should set up an online gaming comission/servers in Europe?

I gotta do more reading...

Found this at the Kahnawake Gaming Commission website. Guess I missed this little bit of news...

News

KGC Amends Interactive Gaming Regulations

On November 9, 2006, the Commission amended certain provisions of its Regulations to prevent its permit holders from conducting betting or wagering by means of voice communication over the telephone or any other device. The full text of the amendments can be viewed HERE.

Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake
15 November, 2006

**bromo98** · 7th March 2007, 02:46 PM

It's not really a 'Canadian' matter - it's a provincial one. Each Canadian province has a gambling authority that is in essence, government run. The provincial governments can determine what gambling goes on in the province - so in British Columbia on the West Coast, players can actually pick their sports gambling and lottery gambling tickets online, while players in other provinces can't. The issue where the federal level gets involved is with the Indian territory.
Can Natives who basically have a federal pass on 'sovereignty' overrule a provincial government on something like this?
Does the provincial government have a say if the tribe does not allow Albertans to have accounts at companies hosted there?
Does either party have the money and the inclination to take the fight all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, as that's where it will end up?
No one really knew what was happening at MIT until online gaming became what it is. Now with all the attention and money involved, there is a lot more scrutiny to pass thru.

**vinylweatherman** · 7th March 2007, 04:51 PM

This might explain the rash of bannings of Canadian accounts. Most notably VIP.com, who are banning Canadians, but allowing existing US players to continue despite the vigorous opposition of the DoJ.

I can't see how the governments can take any action against any First Nation territories on internet gambling if no services are provided to Canadian residents. It would then be a matter between the First Nations and the rest of the world.

If it came to the crunch, I can't see police raids into the territories being a prudent option from a political perspective. The Kawanake servers have been allowed to continue, despite constant reminders that they are technically illegal. Perhaps the motive is to scare the Albertans away from the idea, it is far easier to nip it in the bud now, rather than have half the world notice when they shut down a whole bunch of casinos and poker rooms overnight, inconveniencing players in countries where it is legal.

**lojo** · 8th March 2007, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by bromo98

It's not really a 'Canadian' matter - it's a provincial one. Each Canadian province has a gambling authority that is in essence, government run. The provincial governments can determine what gambling goes on in the province - so in British Columbia on the West Coast, players can actually pick their sports gambling and lottery gambling tickets online, while players in other provinces can't. The issue where the federal level gets involved is with the Indian territory.
Can Natives who basically have a federal pass on 'sovereignty' overrule a provincial government on something like this?
Does the provincial government have a say if the tribe does not allow Albertans to have accounts at companies hosted there?
Does either party have the money and the inclination to take the fight all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, as that's where it will end up?
No one really knew what was happening at MIT until online gaming became what it is. Now with all the attention and money involved, there is a lot more scrutiny to pass thru.

Excuse me, i didn't even read that. The northerns either did or did not create soveriegn stuff. The world court said THEY DID if kanawakee or lojoville is part of that or not is simply none of your bidness! The tribe took back some land up there, like it or not. They are free to do as they wish, canak, franc, and vespuci gumnts aside.

I don't fight and I don't hunt. But I know stupid when I see it.