The Kahnawake Gaming Commission issues three types of authorizations relevant to iGaming operators: the Interactive Gaming Licence, the Client Provider Authorization, and the Key Person Permit. Each serves a distinct function within the framework, and understanding how they relate to one another is essential before beginning an application. Most operators seeking a Kahnawake gaming license are applying for a Client Provider Authorization, the B2C authorization that permits interactive gaming operations. The IGL and the Key Person Permit are structural prerequisites that shape how the CPA is obtained and maintained, not standalone products an operator can pursue independently.
Interactive Gaming Licence (IGL)
The Interactive Gaming Licence is the foundational authorization in the KGC framework. Only one IGL is ever issued at any given time — a structural feature built into the regulations by design. The current holder is Mohawk Internet Technologies (MIT), which operates the co-location facility providing internet services to all authorized operators in the territory.
Operators do not apply for an IGL. This is a common misunderstanding. The IGL is not the authorization that casino or sportsbook operators hold. It authorizes MIT to operate the technical infrastructure that other licensees rely on. Every Client Provider Authorization and Casino Software Provider Authorization issued by the Commission must be appended to MIT’s IGL, meaning all operators are structurally dependent on MIT’s facility for their hosting.
The practical implication: any operator seeking to conduct interactive gaming under the KGC framework must host their gaming servers at MIT’s co-location facility in the Mohawk Territory. This is mandatory, not optional.
Client Provider Authorization (CPA)
The Client Provider Authorization is the primary authorization for operators running online gambling platforms directly accessible to players. This is what most applicants are seeking when they pursue a Kahnawake gambling license.
A CPA authorizes the holder to conduct interactive gaming from the MIT co-location facility. Authorized game types include online casino operations (slots, table games, live dealer), sports and eSports wagering, poker platforms, and cryptocurrency wagering platforms where the underlying activity constitutes interactive gaming under the regulations.
The application fee is 35,000 USD. This covers the non-refundable due diligence cost for background investigations and the first annual licensing fee, which is refundable if the application is denied. The CPA is initially issued for a six-month probationary term. During this period, the operator must implement a continuous compliance program to the Commission’s satisfaction. Following a satisfactory review at the end of that period, the authorization can be renewed for up to five years.
Each director and shareholder holding ten percent or more of the applicant entity must be vetted by the Commission. A Key Person Permit must be in place for each key person before the CPA can be granted.
Key Person Permit
A Key Person Permit is mandatory for every director and key individual within a CPA-holding entity. This sequence requirement catches many applicants off guard: the Key Person Permit application must be submitted alongside the CPA application, and the permits must be in place before the Commission will grant the authorization.
The application fee is 5,000 USD per key person. Key persons are assessed on character, honesty, integrity, criminal history, civil litigation history, credit background, and professional references. The Commission also reviews personal and professional associations.
A material change in key persons, including the appointment of a new director or the addition of a shareholder with ten percent or more ownership, constitutes a reportable event that must be notified to the Commission. Operators cannot appoint new key personnel without undergoing a fresh suitability assessment.
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