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First Nations gaming regulators move to build national institutions

A new First Peoples Gaming Association has met for the first time, and two commissions have signed a mutual support agreement.

By Canadian Gaming News staff · National ·

The Senate chamber in Canada's Parliament, with red carpet and wooden desks
The Senate of Canada, where Bill S-241 would amend the Criminal Code on First Nations gaming. Photo: Ashwin Kumar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

First Nations gaming regulators in Canada are taking early steps toward national co-operation, moving beyond the province-by-province arrangements that have long shaped the sector.

The new First Peoples Gaming Association held its first meeting in Toronto, TribalGaming.com reported. More than 40 representatives from First Nations across the country attended, with a focus on economic sovereignty in gaming.

Commissions sign agreement

In June 2026, the Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission and the Six Nations Gaming Commission signed a memorandum of understanding on mutual support and benefit. The Kahnawà:ke commission was founded in 1996 and is marking 30 years of operation.

According to the report, the agreement is less about sharing technical resources than about presenting a common front on jurisdiction. Both commissions say their authority to regulate comes from inherent rights rather than from provincial delegation. Neither Ottawa nor the provinces have resolved that question.

Senate bill revived

In Parliament, Bill S-241 revives Bill S-268, which was introduced in the Senate in 2023 and stalled in committee. Both bills would amend the Criminal Code and the Indian Act to recognize First Nations authority to regulate, conduct and manage gaming. Provinces have held that power under the Criminal Code since 1985.

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke opposed S-268 but now supports S-241 after further consultation, the report said.

Revenue-sharing deals differ widely from province to province. Ontario and British Columbia each have their own arrangements, and the terms and definitions of shareable revenue vary, which can leave First Nations in different provinces with very different economics. First Nations are also buying established casinos from commercial operators, but provincial Crown corporations keep conduct-and-manage authority over those venues.

TribalGaming.com said three things are worth watching: whether the association builds staff, funding and a policy agenda; whether S-241 clears the committee stage where S-268 died; and whether more commissions join the Kahnawà:ke and Six Nations agreement.