North America · KGC
Kahnawake Gaming Licence — Cost, CPA Route & Guide 2026
Kahnawake has been licensing online operators since 1999, longer than almost anyone. It's cheap, fast through the Client Provider Authorisation route, and crypto-friendly — but it sits below the tier-1 regulators on reputation, and several regulated markets won't recognise it. Here's when it fits.
A Kahnawake gaming licence is an interactive-gambling authorisation issued by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission from the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, most commonly held as a Client Provider Authorisation under a master permit-holder, with servers hosted in the Commission-approved Mohawk Internet Technologies facility.
Quick facts
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) |
| Operating since | 1999 — one of the oldest online-gaming regulators |
| Main route | Client Provider Authorisation (CPA) under a permit-holder |
| Hosting | Mohawk Internet Technologies (KGC-approved) |
| Tax | No gaming tax; no local corporate tax |
| Timeline | ~6-10 weeks for a CPA |
One of the originals
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission started licensing online gambling in 1999, when most regulators hadn’t noticed the internet. For years it was home to poker rooms and early casinos, and the licence still works as a low-cost, fast route to market.
The CPA route
Most operators run under a Client Provider Authorisation issued beneath a master permit-holder, rather than holding a standalone permit. That’s what keeps Kahnawake quick and cheap — a CPA can be live in 6-10 weeks. Servers sit in the Commission’s Mohawk Internet Technologies facility.
Cost
There’s no gaming tax and no local corporate tax in the Mohawk Territory, so the ongoing cost is fees plus hosting — far below tier-1 economics. That’s the appeal for startups and operators serving markets without local online licensing.
Where it fits — and doesn’t
Kahnawake fits operators who want a long-established, low-cost base and don’t need Tier-1 standing. It doesn’t fit operators chasing regulated-market access: most regulated jurisdictions require a local licence, and payments run mainly through specialist providers. Plan your payments and target markets before you commit.
Regulator, fees, tax and status in one place: Kahnawake gambling licence.
Pitfalls and nuances
1 Expecting regulated-market access
A Kahnawake licence doesn't open the EU or other regulated markets. Operators that assume it does hit blocks at payment and market-access stage. Confirm where you can actually serve.
2 Overlooking the hosting tie
Operations are tied to the Mohawk Internet Technologies facility. Factor the hosting arrangement into your technical and latency planning.
Frequently asked questions
How fast is a Kahnawake licence?
A Client Provider Authorisation under an existing permit-holder typically takes 6-10 weeks — faster than a tier-1 application.
Does Kahnawake charge gaming tax?
No. There's no tax on gross gaming revenue and no local corporate tax in the Mohawk Territory. Fees are the main ongoing cost.
Is a Kahnawake licence accepted in regulated markets?
Regulated jurisdictions require their own local licence, so Kahnawake serves as an international base licence for markets without local online licensing rather than as market access.
Can I take crypto payments under a Kahnawake licence?
Yes. It's used by crypto-payment casinos, though on-chain AML and sanctions screening are expected like any other jurisdiction.
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Sources cited
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission — regulator
- KGC Regulations — regulator