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Licence guide

Kahnawake gaming permits.

Operators that want a long-established licence with North American hosting and a short decision period apply to the Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission for a Client Provider Authorization.

Published 16 October 2026 · Last reviewed 17 October 2026
KGCRegulator
US$35,000Application fee
US$20,000Annual fee
1 to 2 months to the preliminary authorization, then the six-month preliminary termOur realistic timeline
NoneGaming duty

Firms we have licensed.

Selected engagements from more than 250 licences obtained since 2013, for payment, e-money and cryptoasset firms.

Since 2013Advising global payment firms
60+Countries licensed in
250+Licences obtained globally
Clients
ClearBankVolkswagenMacmillan Cancer SupportRoyal College of MusicStaysureOval MoneyEMQCentus
nexpayPayment Institution

Obtained Nexpay’s FCA Authorised Payment Institution licence.

dzingElectronic Money Institution

Obtained Dzing Finance’s FCA Authorised Electronic Money Institution licence.

Payment Institution

Obtained Orbital’s FCA Authorised Payment Institution licence.

What you get

1 to 2 months to the preliminary authorization, then the six-month preliminary termLicence granted

Our realistic timeline from submission to decision.

Day oneReady to trade

Acquiring and payment processing in place alongside the application, so you take deposits from launch.

Your teamKey people in place

We assemble your team: senior managers and directors.

Same dayWritten proposal

The licence, the requirements, the cost and the timing for your business.

How we get you licensed and live

  1. Scoping and proposal. The authorization (client provider, casino software or live dealer studio), the key persons needing permits and the hosting at Mohawk Internet Technologies are confirmed, with the fee change on 1 January 2027 planned for.
  2. Application pack. Schedules B, C, D and E with full disclosure, criminal record consents and the fees for the KGC compliance officer’s document review, due diligence and legal review.
  3. Payment processing. Acquiring, alternative payment methods and player accounts in each player’s name at a financial institution or approved body are opened alongside the application.
  4. Regulator engagement. Due diligence questions are answered through to the Commission meeting, four to eight weeks for the first phase, and the control system audit in the six-month preliminary term leads to the full authorization.

Your team, banking and technology

You will need senior managers who each hold a Key Person Permit, and directors of good character, honesty and integrity.

Key peopleWe assemble your team: senior managers and directors.
BankingAcquiring, alternative payment methods and player-funds accounts, opened alongside the application.
TechnologyWhite-label payment and player-wallet technology, ready to go live with the licence.

One programme, from scoping to launch. Speak to an expert about this licence.

The licence in detail

Requirements, capital, timing, fees and common questions, drawn from the regulator’s own publications.

Key takeaways
  • Any operator conducting interactive gaming from the Territory needs a Client Provider Authorization under the Regulations concerning Interactive Gaming, enacted in 1999 and amended on 25 March 2026.
  • The application fee is US$35,000 including the first annual fee, US$40,000 with one Key Person Permit; the annual fee is US$20,000 and the five-year renewal fee US$5,000. From 1 January 2027 the application and renewal fees become US$40,000.
  • The KGC publishes a first-phase period of about four to eight weeks, with due diligence of four to six weeks and the decision at the next Commission meeting.
  • A preliminary six-month authorization is issued first, extendable once by three months, then a full authorization for up to five years.
  • Licensed operators are hosted at Mohawk Internet Technologies, the data centre in the Territory managed by Continent 8 Technologies; there is no stated requirement for a locally incorporated company or resident directors.
  • Every proposed key person holds a Key Person Permit, US$5,000 on application and US$1,000 a year, and the Commission may require security for player obligations by bond, insurance, lien or cash deposit.

Who needs the licence

An operator conducting interactive gaming from the Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Territory, from the co-location facility operated by the holder of the Interactive Gaming Licence, needs a Client Provider Authorization. Casino software providers and live dealer studios hold their own authorizations, and each proposed key person holds a Key Person Permit. The regime is used by operators that want a long-established licence with hosting in North America and a short decision period, serving markets without a local licensing regime.

Permit types

PermitHolderApplication feeAnnual fee
Client Provider AuthorizationOperators conducting interactive gaming from the TerritoryUS$35,000, including the first annual feeUS$20,000
Casino Software Provider AuthorizationSuppliers of casino software to authorized operatorsUS$35,000US$20,000 plus US$3,000 per listed third-party operator
Live Dealer Studio AuthorizationStudios with equipment installed at the hosting facilityUS$25,000US$10,000
Key Person PermitEach proposed key personUS$5,000US$1,000
Interactive Gaming LicenceThe hosting facility within the TerritoryUS$30,000US$15,000

Inter-jurisdictional authorizations were repealed on 30 November 2022. The Commission publishes an application-related costs sheet showing US$40,000 for a Client Provider Authorization with one Key Person Permit and US$30,000 for a Live Dealer Studio Authorization.

What the KGC requires

  • Hosting in the Territory. Interactive gaming conducted from the co-location facility operated by the Interactive Gaming Licence holder, wholly within the Territory: Mohawk Internet Technologies, managed by Continent 8 Technologies; live dealer studio equipment installed at the same facility.
  • Suitability. Good character, honesty and integrity, assessed on associations, criminal and civil history, credit history, references and work history; corporate applicants assessed on business reputation, financial position, ownership structure, resources and the suitability of directors and shareholders of 10% or more.
  • Key persons. A Key Person Permit for each proposed key person, valid for up to five years and renewable without limit; applications include a criminal record consent and a full disclosure assurance.
  • Player protection. A player’s account in the player’s name at a financial institution or Commission-approved body; security for player obligations where the Commission requires it, by bond, insurance, lien or charge, cash deposit or another acceptable form, which the Commission may apply to unmet player obligations.
  • Control system. A Schedule I control system submission, audited by an Approved Agent during the six-month preliminary term, with return-to-player testing by an Approved Agent after the full authorization.
  • Application pack. Schedule B (business entity), Schedule C (personal information), Schedule D (the authorization application) and Schedule E (key person) with the fees, assigned to a KGC compliance officer for document review, due diligence, legal review and the Commission meeting; Continent 8 is notified of the application. Material changes are reported and renewal applications are received at least three months before expiry.

Capital

RequirementAmount
Minimum share capitalNone stated
Security for player obligationsBond, insurance, lien or charge, cash deposit or other acceptable form, where the Commission requires it
Player accountsIn the player’s name at a financial institution or approved body

The Regulations set no capital figure. The Commission assesses financial position and resources on application and may apply any security it holds to unmet player obligations.

Timing

FigureValueSource
Statutory decision periodNo fixed decision period; the Commission promptly considers applications; renewal applications at least three months before expiryRegulations concerning Interactive Gaming, sections 31, 38 and 167
Regulator’s published figure4 to 8 weeks, about 1 to 2 months, for the first phase depending on full disclosure, with due diligence of 4 to 6 weeks and a decision at the next Commission meeting; then a 6-month preliminary term, extendable once by 3 monthsKGC application process
Application preparation6 to 8 weeksFrom instruction to submission, including banking in parallel
Our realistic timeline1 to 2 months to the preliminary authorization, then the six-month preliminary termOur own figure, from the regulator’s published data and our applications

Regulator figures are quoted as published and converted to months. Our realistic timeline assumes a complete, well-prepared application.

Fees and costs

ItemAmountNotes
Client Provider Authorization applicationUS$35,000Includes the first annual fee; US$40,000 with one Key Person Permit; part is non-refundable due diligence cost and the first annual fee is returned if the application is not granted
Annual feeUS$20,000Late payment penalty of 10% a year
Five-year renewalUS$5,000US$40,000 including the annual fee from 1 January 2027
Key Person PermitUS$5,000On application; US$1,000 a year; US$6,000 from 1 January 2027
Fees from 1 January 2027US$40,000Application fee including the first annual fee; applications submitted before that date are assessed under the fees in force at submission
Gaming dutyNoneThe Regulations set no duty on gaming revenue
Professional feesFixedQuoted after scoping

Markets covered

The Regulations do not address permitted or prohibited target jurisdictions; the Commission’s position for each market is agreed with it before launch. Operators serving regulated markets hold the local licence in each, such as the Gambling Commission licence for Great Britain; we obtain each licence in your group’s structure.

Why applications are delayed

The Regulations and the KGC’s published process set out what the Commission looks for.

  1. Full disclosure. The first-phase period of four to eight weeks depends on full disclosure; the Commission may deny an application where a material fact is misrepresented or a material change is not reported.
  2. Suitability and conditions. The conditions for each permit type must be satisfied, and the Commission retains sole discretion to deny an application even where the requirements are met.
  3. Jurisdictional integrity. The Commission considers any possible adverse effect on Kahnawà:ke’s jurisdictional integrity or reputation, and on renewal, serious or numerous complaints in the prior term.

Payment processing

An operator needs acquiring, alternative payment methods and player accounts held in the player’s name at a financial institution or Commission-approved body. We open acquiring and player-funds accounts alongside the application. See banking and payment processing.

Common questions

How long does a Kahnawake authorization take?

The KGC publishes about four to eight weeks for the first phase, with due diligence of four to six weeks and a decision at the next Commission meeting, followed by a six-month preliminary term before the full authorization. We plan for one to two months to the preliminary authorization.

What does a Client Provider Authorization cost?

US$35,000 on application including the first annual fee, or US$40,000 with one Key Person Permit, then US$20,000 a year and US$5,000 on five-year renewal. From 1 January 2027 the application and renewal fees are US$40,000; applications submitted earlier are assessed under the current fees.

Must we incorporate in Kahnawake?

The Regulations state no requirement for a locally incorporated company or resident directors. The local presence is hosting: gaming is conducted from the co-location facility wholly within the Territory.

Where must the servers be?

At Mohawk Internet Technologies, the data centre in the Territory managed by Continent 8 Technologies; live dealer studio equipment is installed at the same facility.

Is there a gaming tax?

The Regulations set no duty or tax on gaming revenue. The KGC makes no statement on taxation; the wider tax position follows the operator’s structure.

References

  1. KGC: about interactive gaming
  2. Regulations concerning Interactive Gaming, 25 March 2026
  3. KGC: application process
  4. KGC: application related costs
  5. KGC: increase of fees from 1 January 2027
  6. KGC: application process and forms

About Buckingham Capital Consulting

A regulatory advisory firm to payment, e-money and cryptoasset companies since 2013, with more than 250 licences obtained in more than 60 countries. The firm builds licensed payment, e-money, crypto and stablecoin businesses: the licence, the team, the technology, the bank accounts and card issuing.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees change, and the regulator’s own publications take precedence.

How we work.

  • Senior-ledThe same senior team handles your application from the first call to approval, including every question the regulator raises.
  • Same dayA reply within three business hours and a written proposal the same day: the licence, the requirements, the cost and the timing.
  • ConfidentialYour plans, your application and any listing stay private. Clients are named only with their agreement.
  • Live workspaceDocuments, regulator questions, messages and progress in a shared client workspace, visible to your team at every stage.

Why firms choose BCC.

  • OperatorsWe have run regulated payment businesses, held regulator-approved roles and licensed payment firms in more than 60 countries since 2013.
  • One teamOne in-house team runs the whole programme, from the application to the day you go live.
  • ArrangedBank and safeguarding accounts, card issuing and payment processing, arranged directly through our relationships with banks, card schemes, issuers and processors.

Apply for this licence.

The licence, your team, banking and technology, delivered as one programme.