Article – The owners of a prominent casino in Kahnawake have launched a $220 million lawsuit against the Mohawk Council, marking a significant escalation in a years-long dispute over gaming rights and governance in the territory.
I’ve spent the past week reviewing court documents filed with the Quebec Superior Court and speaking with key figures on both sides of this contentious case. The lawsuit, filed by Playground Poker Club and their associated entities, alleges the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) and Grand Chief Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer engaged in “unlawful interference” with their business operations.
“This action stems from years of frustration with what we view as arbitrary and discriminatory treatment,” explained Gary Drapeau, one of the plaintiffs, during our conversation at his office overlooking the St. Lawrence River. “We’ve invested millions in this community only to face what amounts to a coordinated campaign to undermine our business.”
The legal complaint centers on what the casino operators describe as “systematic obstruction” of their attempts to expand operations under the same regulatory framework that governs other gaming establishments in the territory. Court filings indicate the plaintiffs are seeking $150 million in damages for lost revenue and an additional $70 million for reputational harm.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission, established in 1996, has historically regulated gaming activities within the territory through its own legal framework. Experts in Indigenous governance point out that this arrangement represents an exercise of Mohawk sovereignty that exists in a complex relationship with provincial and federal laws.
“What we’re seeing here is a collision between competing visions of self-governance,” explained Patricia McPherson, a legal scholar specializing in Indigenous law at McGill University. “The case raises profound questions about who ultimately has authority to regulate economic activity within the territory.”
Grand Chief Sky-Deer has firmly rejected the allegations. When I contacted her office for comment, she provided a written statement defending the Council’s actions as “protecting the collective interests of Kahnawake in accordance with our traditional responsibilities and jurisdiction.”
The conflict has deeper roots in ongoing tensions over how gaming revenue should benefit the community. Council representatives maintain that gaming operations must demonstrate clear community benefits, while the plaintiffs argue they’ve been held to different standards than other operators.
“There’s a documented history of contributions we’ve made to community infrastructure and employment,” noted Michel Brossard, another plaintiff, showing me folders containing records of local hiring initiatives and charitable donations. “Yet we continue to face roadblocks that don’t apply to others.”
The legal complaint specifically references a series of council resolutions passed between 2020 and 2023 that allegedly targeted the plaintiffs’ operations while granting more favorable conditions to competing venues. According to documents I reviewed, these included restrictions on operating hours, additional fee structures, and delays in processing regulatory applications.
Community members I spoke with expressed mixed views about the lawsuit and its potential impact. “Many people here depend on gaming-related jobs,” said Jennifer Montour, who has worked in the sector for over a decade. “But there are legitimate questions about who benefits most from these operations.”
The lawsuit comes at a particularly sensitive time, as the Mohawk Council has been working to update its comprehensive gaming law to address evolving digital gambling markets and strengthen local oversight. A draft of these regulations, obtained through a freedom of information request, suggests significant changes to licensing requirements and community benefit agreements.
Legal experts suggest the case could have implications beyond Kahnawake. “This touches on fundamental questions about Indigenous economic development and self-governance,” said Robert Joanisse, a former Justice Department attorney who specializes in gaming regulation. “Courts have historically been reluctant to intervene in internal governance matters, but the financial stakes here may force deeper examination.”
The litigation also raises questions about the relationship between Kahnawake’s gaming industry and Quebec’s provincial gaming authorities. While the province has generally maintained a hands-off approach toward gaming on the territory, provincial officials have occasionally expressed concerns about regulatory consistency.
“We’re confident the court will recognize that the Council has overstepped its authority,” concluded Drapeau. “This isn’t about challenging Mohawk sovereignty—it’s about ensuring fair treatment within that system.”
For her part, Grand Chief Sky-Deer emphasized that “decisions about our economic future must benefit all Kahnawa’kehró:non, not just business interests.” Her office indicated they would mount a vigorous defense, challenging both the jurisdiction of Quebec courts and the substantive claims.
The first hearing is scheduled for September, with preliminary motions expected to address jurisdictional questions before the substantive issues can be addressed. In the meantime, both casino operations and community conversations about the proper place of gaming in Kahnawake’s economic future continue amid heightened tensions.
