Canada Ponders Its Own Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act

According to pokerlistings.com, Kahnawake reserve near Montreal, home to about 400 online poker and sports-betting sites, including Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker, is thought to have the third-largest number of gambling operators of any jurisdiction in the world. The Canadian federal government may be looking to quash online gambling sites based on the Kahnawake because online gambling is considered illegal in Canada, but the Mohawk of Kahnawake have said the laws don’t apply to them because they are a sovereign nation.

Genevieve Breton, Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson’s director of communications, confirmed that following recent concerns surrounding Internet gambling, the Minister of Justice has directed his officials to investigate whether other measures could assist with the enforcement of the Criminal Code against the reserve in Quebec and other illegal online gambling operations.

According to the National Post, those other measures are understood to be moves to restrict banks and credit card companies from allowing online gambling transactions, similar to what the United States passed with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. It’s surprising to hear that banning internet sports wagering and gaming, by forcing the banks to rejects payment transactions as United States has done is being considered in Canada as well. There are many examples in EU and England where internet gaming has been legalized, allowing the government to reap tremendous tax revenues while regulating and policing the industry instead of driving it under ground. Furthermore, American Bankers Association Spoke Up Against the UIGEA because of how hard it is to enforce its guidelines and stay with in the regulations.

Michael Lipton, a Toronto lawyer who specializes in gaming law, said in the National Post article that he believes the government should bring the Kahnawake sites into the system and regulate them. It would provide better protection for customers as well as bringing in tax revenue.

“I think [Ottawa] should embrace this and recognize that people don’t want to be in a position where the government tells them what they can or can’t do in the peace of their own home,” Lipton said in the article.

Understanding that people will find a way to gamble and play games online governments should legalize, monitor and tax internet gaming instead of driving the players and casinos underground where players can will get taken advantage off because they can’t complain to the authorities if they are taking advantage of.

Bookmark or Share This