EGD Pilot Project Over: Still Work To Be Done

The 3-year Electronic Gaming Devices Pilot Project in Kahnawà:ke has officially come to an end after almost 5 years, with delays that were brought on by the pandemic. The Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission (KGC) presented a report at the Special Community meeting in December. It contained important and positive information concerning the operational and social impacts of EGDs in the territory. The report also indicated that more infrastructure development is required. Mike Delisle is on the gaming portfolio at the MCK:

“I would say as successful as anticipated, maybe even beyond that. We haven’t gone through financial numbers at this point, that’s not my portfolio, as gaming portfolio my responsibilities are on the regulatory side and some of the operational aspects in terms of the report that was compiled by the KGC, but we know that it has been successful based on some of the monies that have come in through general coffers here at the Mohawk Council.”

Delisle saying there’s more work to be done:

“There’s lots of work moving forward, just because we’ve declared the pilot project over, yes number 1: because it was successful; number 2: because there hasn’t been identified large social impact but the operational impacts need to be assessed, addressed. There is co-operation, we are going to talking obviously to the 2 proponents as well and most importantly engaging with community on all of these aspects as well.”

Currently, there are two operational EGD licenses issued by the KGC for Magic Palace and Playground. Those will remain in place.