Cree Band Told To Hold Online Gambling Plans

Published: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 Online-Casinos.com

CREE BAND WARNED TO HOLD ON INTERNET GAMBLING PLANS

Alberta's top cop says he has no intention of allowing another Kahnawake in his province

CNews reports that the top cop in the Canadian province of Alberta has warned a Cree band to halt plans to set up an Internet gambling haven on their reserve near the city of Edmonton.

Solicitor General Fred Lindsay says he's become aware that the Mohawks, who run what he claims are illegal gambling operations in Quebec, have been advising the Alexander First Nation, and he has no intention of allowing the Alberta band to copy the Mohawks, who operate a web hosting company to facilitate more than 400 Internet gambling sites around the world.

"We understand that the Mohawks may be giving Alexander some advice on how to set it up," Lindsay said. "I'm not intending on letting it get away on us."

The Alexander band has set up a web hosting company identical to one operated by the Mohawks, and has also established its own gaming commission to offer online gaming licenses, with application fees starting at US$20 000.

"We're indicating to them to cease and desist if it is their intent to conduct an illegal operation in the province of Alberta," Lindsay told reporters.

Officials with the Alexander band did not return phone calls, but have said in the past that they view themselves as a sovereign nation with the power to offer gaming licenses.

Lindsay says he's not aware that the band has actually set up any Internet gambling sites, so at this point the province's gaming commission is continuing its investigation.

"Anybody who goes against the Criminal Code of Canada would end up being a lawbreaker," he said. "Right now, in regard to Alexander, they've indicated intent to do that, so we're investigating it."