Indeed, quite unpronounceable this Kahnawake, and not easy to write too.

As you probably did, and I hoped so, you carefully read all the detailed informations I placed on this site. You surely noticed that a lot of these online casinos have their legal existence, their gaming or gambling license, issued by a country or region you never heard of.

Kahnawake, Gibraltar, Costa Rica and many others are all countries or regions where the government can issue gambling licenses to internet casinos. They have thus a strategic impact on this industry.

I will try to make a quick overview of these so called paradises.

Kahnawáke is located 10 kilometers south of Montreal, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. The word “Kahnawáke” means “on the rapids,” which perfectly describes the Territory’s eastern reaches. Kahnawáke is one of seven communities, which comprise the Mohawk Nation. In turn, the Mohawks (or Kanienkehaka – the People of the Flint) are part of the larger Iroquois Confederacy. Kahnawáke is home to approximately 8,000 residents.

What about the Gaming Commission ? This was established the 10 june 1996, and is presently comprised of three members appointed by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake : Alan Goodleaf (Chairperson), Mike Delisle Jr. and Iris Rice. The Commission is empowered to regulate and control gaming and gaming related activities conducted within and from the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake in accordance with the highest principles of honesty and integrity. The 8 july 1999, the Commission enacted its Regulations Concerning Interactive Gaming (the "Regulations"). The Regulations ensure that all interactive gaming and gaming related activities conducted within or from the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake satisfy three basic principles: That only suitable persons and entities are permitted to operate within Kahnawake; That the games offered are fair to the player; and That winners are paid. The information provided is investigated for accuracy and completeness by an independent agency contracted by the Commission, National Fraud Center. Based on the reports received from National Fraud, the Commission makes a decision as to the applicant’s suitability. More very interesting information can be found on their web site, including all the pdf files regarding the regulations concerning interactive gaming. Some interesting facts: 1.did you know that all application received by the Commission must include all the necessary information but also a cheque for the fees and costs. This check has a value of 25000$ (15000$ to execute the probity controls and 10000$ for the annual permit fee). 2.And this is at the M.I.T. (no joke) Mohawk Internet Technologies that more than 200 virtual casinos are hosted, belonging to different companies from different countries. 3.Alan Goodleaf (Chairperson) the president of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission is plumber. [Cool.] 4.I did some checks to see where casinos were really hosted, using a Visual Trace Route software; and this is ok. Example : 777Dragon is pointing to M.I.T. Network, Golden Palace somewhere near Montreal, Maple Casino to M.I.T., Roxy Palace somewhere near Toronto, but many others are pointing to Burnaby...If someone can explain it to me, plz mail me.

Gibraltar. Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In referendums held in 1967 and 2002, Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. Gibraltar is located in Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain.

All gambling operations in Gibraltar require a license under the Gaming Ordinance. Gambling licences are issued by the Office of the Financial and Development Secretary on behalf of the Government. The Government is generally only licensing companies with a proven track record in gaming and a reputable standing and these licenses are very difficult to obtain. Here are some examples : Ladbrokes, Victor Chandler, Cassava Enterprises (home of 888 and pacificpoker).... Conditions and requirements : advertising, promotion and sponsoring will be accurate and truthful and only targeted at adult players. they will pay winnings to players in accordance with clearly established arrangements agreed to with the customer. they will collect the minimum information >: full name; residential address; sex and age as no customer may be registered as a player if under the age of eighteen; they will pay the gaming tax. the bank accounts linked to financial movements concerning customers, funds, stakes and so on must be controlled by the Company. Bank accounts used for credit card processing must be carried out in a Gibraltar licensed institution. hey will comply fully with all obligations in respect of any transactions which may give rise to any suspicions concerning money laundering. More informations to be found on www.gibraltar.gov.gi

Costa Rica . It will be short : no regulation. The latest proposed laws concerning the regulation and taxation of online casinos have not passed...You just need a business license to set up a gambling site. Well, Costa Rica has still a lot of issues to deal with before reaching the quality of Gibraltar e.g. Costa Rica remains famous for its coffee and exotic animals, not for its internet gambling laws. Anyway, some countries in this area have a gambling regulation system. Eg : Belize, Panama.

Antigua and Barbuda. Another dreamy and sunny destination for the gambling entrepreneur and for the wealthy tourist. Located in the Carribean Sea, Antigua has warms and steady winds, beautiful beaches and coral reefs. It is not far away from the St. Kitts islands and other financial paradises. Antigua is about 14 miles long and 11 miles wide; temperatures generally range from the mid-seventies in the winter to the mid-eighties in the summer.

Internet gambling has become a major part of the economy of these two little islands and since 2002, Antigua and Barbuda Government has introduced an online gambling legal environment. Gaming companies are required to strictly follow the laws regarding the money laundering issues. Companies involved in internet gaming, sports books and virtual casinos pay a 3% tax on gross handle. As for Kahnawake, there is a non refundable fee of 10.000$ required to conduct all the necessary tests on the online casino. Every year, a 50.000$ fee is paid for the interactive wagering license.