The Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission has appointed Donna Delaronde as chairperson and Vicky Diabo as a commissioner. The changes begin a broader renewal of the board overseeing gaming linked to the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawà:ke.

The Commission announced the appointments on September 2, 2026. The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke appointed Diabo on August 17. Delaronde became chairperson on August 26.

The leadership change affects a regulator that licenses and oversees gaming conducted within or from Kahnawà:ke, including online gambling operations serving international markets.

What the appointments change

The Commission regulates gaming conducted within and from the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawà:ke, near Montréal, Québec. Its responsibilities include licensing, compliance, complaints and player-protection processes.

The regulator’s mandate covers several forms of gaming:

  • Online casino games
  • Online poker
  • Sportsbook operations
  • Land-based poker rooms
  • Electronic gaming devices
  • Certain raffles

The Commission is not a Canada-wide licensing authority. Its powers apply to gaming based in or offered from Kahnawà:ke under the territory’s laws and regulations.

Mohawk Council seeks two more members

On September 2, the Mohawk Council also issued a call for two additional people to serve on the Gaming Commission.

Applicants must meet several requirements:

  • Be registered on the Kanien’kehá:ka of Kahnawà:ke Registry
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have no financial or management interest in gaming establishments within the territory
  • Meet the criminal-record requirements set out in the notice

The Council said experience in regulation, board service or administrative-law training would be an asset. The recruitment indicates that the appointments form part of a wider board renewal rather than a single leadership change.

A long-standing Indigenous gaming regulator

Kahnawà:ke established its Gaming Commission on June 10, 1996. The Commission says it has licensed and regulated online gaming since July 8, 1999.

Its rules allow the Commission to issue licences, authorizations and permits for interactive gaming. Player protection and dispute resolution are also part of its stated mandate.

The permit structure includes several categories:

  • Interactive Gaming Licences for hosting facilities
  • Client Provider Authorizations for gaming-service providers
  • Approvals for key personnel
  • Approvals for casino software
  • Approvals for live-dealer studios

Authorized providers may offer casino, poker or sportsbook products, subject to the Commission’s rules.

Why the board change matters

Kahnawà:ke’s model differs from provincial systems such as Ontario’s regulated private-operator market and Alberta’s provincial framework. The Commission regulates activity connected to the Mohawk Territory through an Indigenous legal and administrative structure.

The new chairperson and commissioners will help oversee licensing decisions, operator compliance and player-protection procedures. Their decisions can affect gaming companies that base operations or services in Kahnawà:ke, as well as players who use those services.