Gaming discussed at community meeting
Golden Age Club. File Photo
This Wednesday’s community meeting at the Golden Age Club lasted until nearly 9 p.m., with community members engaging in discussions with Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) chiefs for nearly five hours.
The meeting, which took place at the Golden Age Club, saw around 30 Kahnawa’kehró:non come out. While the agenda led with Terrapure, other topics broached included gaming, according to community member Darlene Alfred who attended.
“It was a very productive community meeting on the community’s part, I would say,” said Alfred. “A lot of things were brought out, they heard the people’s voices and concerns, and now they should table that, sit down, and say, ‘What are we going to do?’”
For Alfred, one of the biggest points of discussion was related to gaming. She was unhappy to hear last week that the MCK would be increasing the number of electronic gaming device (EGD) permits, an announcement that sparked controversy in the community, with many feeling that the Council table has decided to move ahead with expanding permits without adequate consultation with the community.
She said that she’s particularly concerned about the MCK making any decisions related to gaming while it’s embroiled in legal matters related to Magic Palace, one of the only two institutions that had previously been given permits to operate EGDs alongside Playground Poker.
Magic Palace was forced to close in the spring of 2024 when the MCK terminated its royalty agreement with the facility following allegations that surfaced in La Presse that it had been infiltrated by organized crime.
Magic Palace’s owners subsequently filed a lawsuit against the MCK and MCK grand chief Cody Diabo, seeking $220.57 million in damages.
The prospect of offering EGD permits to another institution makes Alfred feel uneasy – as of right now, no decisions have been made about which individuals or organizations would be granted permits, with MCK chiefs promising community consultation in the form of kiosks and special meetings before moving ahead.
“The community only granted those two gaming establishments to open and that was through community consensus,” she said. “Now I say that you shouldn’t even be addressing another gaming establishment, since you’re already in the courts. You shouldn’t even be going there. Settle one thing before you jump into another.”
EGDs have become an increasingly significant contributor of own-source community revenues, with nearly $30 million flowing to the MCK’s coffers in a single year.
