KAHNAWAKE DISPLEASED WITH UK WHITELISTING EXCLUSION

18 January 2008

Mohawks mull action under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples


A strong reaction from the Mohawk Council of the Kahnawake was perhaps inevitable following its exclusion, along
with Antigua, from the UK governments Department of Culture Media and Sport whitelist of online gambling companies
welcome to advertise in Britain (see previous InfoPowa report)

For the Kahnawake Gaming Commission the exclusion was deeply disappointing, given the large number of online
gambling companies hosted and licensed by the Canadian First Nation enclave close to Montreal. The possibility
that at least some of these companies may choose a more UK friendly jurisdiction will no doubt have crossed the
Mohawks' minds.

Grand Chief Michael Ahríhrhon Delisle, Jr. has now made a statement expressing his disappointment, emphasising
what he describes as Kahnawake's "...long-standing reputation as the world leader in Internet regulatory
compliance and enforcement" and contrasting that with recently whitelisted Tasmania, "....which has no such
history."

“Despite having been the first jurisdiction to accept and implement the world-recognized eCOGRA standard, the
implementation of a mandatory continuous compliance policy, and our consistent enforcement of what may very well
be the world’s most stringent due diligence program, our name has not been added to the U.K.’s exclusive white
list,” he continued.

“Kahnawake has concerns regarding the process undertaken by the U.K. authority and has initiated inquiries to
ascertain whether the application was afforded fair and objective consideration, which at this point, we do not
believe was the case."

Delisle feels that the DCMS decision may be in direct conflict with the commitments made in the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to which the UK was a signatory in September, 2007, and is
seeking advice on potential recourse against the UK under Article 20 of the Declaration, which states:

"Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and develop their political, economic and social systems or
institutions, to be secure in the enjoyment of their own means of subsistence and development, and to engage
freely in all their traditional and other economic activities," and "Indigenous peoples deprived of their means of
subsistence and development are entitled to just and fair redress."

Chief Delisle said that despite the setback, the Mohawks of Kahnawake will remain committed to regulatory
enforcement of the Internet gaming industry to ensure an environment where fairness, integrity and player
protection are paramount.

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