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Quebec Police Assessing Online Casinos at Kahnawake

``The results of an investigation by the Surete du Quebec (French Provincial Police) could resolve whether online casinos are illegal, or whether the provincial government will have to rework its gambling regulations to maintain control of the lucrative industry.

``The government's position is that while there may not be any specifics in the gaming regulations to address virtual casinos, anything not sanctioned by the province is a no-no.

```For us, theoretically at least, this is illegal,' said Francois Moisan, spokesman for Quebec's alcohol, racing and gaming board.

``…But the Mohawks of Kahnawake disagree.

``Through their company Mohawk Internet Technologies, the Mohawks have been making money using an Internet-service provider, or ISP, that offers online gambling.

``Credit-card bets on games such as poker, bingo and slots, are placed in faraway computers that hook up to the Kahnawake server through the Internet.

``…But representatives have said in the past that the company is not afraid of being shut down because the Internet is in a gray zone when it comes to the law and, technically, the gambling isn't taking place on the reserve.

``However, one information-technology lawyer said police are on solid legal ground if they choose to shut down the online casinos.

``…Sunny Handa, a Montreal lawyer and professor at McGill University suggested politics could become more of a determining factor for police and government than the law…"

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