The Ontario Superior Court of Justice laid down a ruling on Monday that subdued the appeal of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK), who were vying to reverse an earlier resolution permitting online casino games in the regulated iGaming market in Ontario.
Court Decision Quashes Legal Contestation to Regulated iGaming Market in Ontario
In essence, the MCK disputed the government’s verdict allowing gambling, which gave rise to the creation of a controlled gaming framework supervised by both the iGaming Ontario and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, along with the government. These authorities are also working on various facets of the gambling experience, such as responsible gambling mechanisms, gambling advertisement regulations, and more.
MCK’s aim was to have Bill C-218 overturned, even though it was established as law and came into effect in June 2021. The bill actively permits single-event sports betting and online casinos in the province. Nevertheless, the appellant maintained that the law was unconstitutional and illegal.
However, the argument was unequivocally dismissed by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Monday, stating no corroborating evidence to second the claim. The executive director of iGaming Ontario, Martha Otton, welcomed this verdict, stating:
“We have always had faith in our operational model. It brings satisfaction that the court has ruled in our favor allowing Ontarians to continue playing with assurance in our regulated iGaming market.”
iGaming Ontario Executive Director Martha Otton
Reassuringly, Otton stated that nothing about the way Ontario had regulated its market was deemed unconstitutional or illegal. Furthermore, the current regulatory setup significantly contributes to the public interest by instituting a regulated gambling environment promoting responsible gambling behavior and thereby ensuring consumer protection.
Financial Worries and Unpromising Prospects Drive the MCK
MCK’s legal challenge wasn’t just due to legal concerns, but substantial economic obstacles too. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke along with the Mohawks of Kahnawake have issued iGaming licenses for a quarter of a century. However, they haven’t partaken in the passing of C-218, positioning them at a significant disadvantage now that the licensing regime has entirely moved to Ontario.
One particular legal contention revolved around whether iGO adequately regulated happenings on private operators’ websites. The Superior Court of Justice has verified iGO to be proficiently regulated and keeping a check on the industry, thereby silencing a prominent challenge to Ontario’s gambling market.
