23-Mar-07. Oka fear won’t affect gambling ruling. Edmonton Sun, 28.

Alberta Solicitor General Fred Lindsay says he won’t let the threat of a crisis stop him from shutting down an Alberta native band’s online gambling business before it gets started. The Criminal Code of Canada forbids gambling operations not licensed by government. Alexander First Nation Chief Ray Arcand said the province has no jurisdiction over the sovereign Alexander First Nation.

10-Mar-07. Mohawks deny link with Cree gambling site. Lethbridge Herald, A7.

Chuck Barnett of Mohawk Internet Technologies denies allegations by Alberta’s solicitor general that they’re advising an Alberta Cree band on how to set up an Internet gambling hub. Solicitor General Fred Lindsay told reporters earlier this week that his officials had become aware that the Mohawks were advising the Alexander First Nation, which is now offering to host Internet gambling web sites for a fee.

7-Mar-07. Alberta Cree band warned to halt plans for Internet gaming. Lethbridge Herald, A2.

Alberta Solicitor General Fred Lindsay is warning the Alexander First Nation that he has no intention of allowing the band to operate a web hosting company for gambling sites. Officials with the band have said in the past that they view themselves as a sovereign nation with the power to offer gaming licenses.

9-Feb-07. Gaming commission investigating native band over Internet gambling. Red Deer Advocate, B9.

Alberta Solicitor General Fred Lindsay said in an interview that the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is investigating the Alexander First Nation after the band recently announced its intention to offer online gaming licences. Lindsay said Internet gaming is illegal in Alberta and he will ensure that it does not happen. Cheryl Gibson, an official with the band’s newly formed Internet technology firm, says a large data centre is in the final stages of construction.

11-Feb-07. Online gambling still in grey area. Edmonton Journal, A18.

This editorial relates to the announcement that Alexander First Nation will host offshore casino firms who want to set up computer servers and offer online gambling to individuals living outside of Canada. It is noted that the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission has said the operations are illegal and should be stopped. The author poses questions about whether a service that serves gamblers outside the country should be illegal. Also, if the government itself eventually offers online gambling, it might be difficult to justify a decision to close down the centre on the Alexander reserve.

10-Feb-07. Band’s online gambling bid has outside chance, experts say. Edmonton Journal, A2.

The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is investigating the Emdonton-area Alexander First Nation which is offering licences for online poker, casino or sports-betting houses but has not yet started operations. The provincial regulator deems that any gaming schemes taking place outside its regulations is against the Criminal Code. Gaming industry lawyer Michael Lipton says it might be possible for the band to get legal approval to host offshore Internet gambling firms if it can prove that wagering was a major part of their ancestral heritage.

10-Feb-07. Good odds on addiction. Edmonton Sun, 12.

This article discusses the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission’s poll to see if Albertans want to see legal Internet gambling as well as the announcement by the Alexander First Nation that they intend to offer licences to online gambling firms. Comments about the possible risks of online gambling by a number of researchers consultants to provide additional background on this gambling format.

8-Feb-07. Band forges ahead with online casino plan. Edmonton Journal, A3.

Alexander First Nation, near Morinville, announced last October that its own gambling commission will regulate and offer licences to Internet gambling operators. In preparation to accommodate online gambling operations, Alexander is building a 2,300-square-metre data centre on its territory which will host computer servers for gambling web sites. Alexander appears to be following a successful model developed and operated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission which is located on Mohawk Territory in Quebec. University of Alberta gambling research specialist Garry Smith points out that legal opinion is that the Kahnawake initiative is likely a violation of the Criminal Code but there are some lawyers with differing opinions on the matter.