International
Last of the Mohican
Cooper’s Leather Stocking Tales dealt with the Mohawks — who were going under that name at the time. They are part of the Iroquois Confederation. They resided in upstate New York and up into Canada. The Kahnawake branch operates the server farm and licenses many of the poker sites still servicing U.S. Clients. Their greatest claim to fame before that was as members of the Ironworker union with a reputation for being fearless working high steel.
Indians of all flavors (I’m part Cherokee…the ‘civilized’ ones.) have treaty agreements with both the U.S. and Canada. We treat with them in many respects as sovereign nations. On this basis is the development of casinos on Indian land. The Kahnawake group took it to the Internet and developed an operation that caters to that.
As them or even as a group of Poles, Dutch, or whatever residing in Plumpuk, Utah or again whatever, you wouldn’t expect a great deal of Internet/Geek savy. That has been pretty apparent along the way. They’ve provided the basic support for the various sites and have been subject to painful laughter as poker players have sought to resolve problems with various Kahnawake sites. (The better ones now have their own support lines.) The mantra of the Kahnawake folks brings tears of laughter when they use their stock solution, “Clear your cache.”
Player: I hit the raise button and it folded my hand.
Support: Clear your cache
Player: Everything else on my computer was working and the site froze right as I filled my straight
Support: Clear your cache.
I have written several times recently that I have problems across the board with sites they service. Not only do I get disconnected in the process of playing but I see it happening consistently with others. If I’m the only one with the problem, it is probably a problem on my end. When it is happening to everybody, it has got to be the server farm and the quality of their net connection.
Now along comes the Absolute Poker situation into this environment. Fortunately, the Mohawks have abandoned any claim to expertise and brought in an outside firm to perform the audit. We are fortunate that this is occurring.
From http://www.absolutepoker.com/support/privacy.asp:
“Absolute Poker and this website is solely owned and operated by Tokwiro Enterprises ENRG, Route 138, Kahnawake, Quebec J0L 1B0. Tokwiro Enterprises ENRG is owned by a Mohawk of Kahnawake, and is operated from the sovereign nation of the Mohawks of Kahnawake, located near Montreal Quebec. The Mohawks of Kahnawake have an aboriginal right to conduct online gaming that is recognized and protected by the Canadian Constitution.
Absolute Poker is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission that enforces regulations designed to ensure, amongst other goals, that: (1) only suitable persons/entities operate within Kahnawake; (2) all games offered are fair to the player; and (3) all winners are paid.”
Poker Scout provides the following about Absolute Poker:
Owner: Blast Off Limited (private company) Headquarters: Malta Server Location: Kahnawake, Canada
I also came across another name: ”Absolute Poker is a downloadable poker room and casino using Proprietary Software licensed in Kahnawake. It is one of 2 online gaming sites owned by Absolute Entertainment, SA.”
Frequent changes in names and owners has occurred in the past. It was a way of life in Old Las Vegas where the syndicate worked to conceal the actual ownership. While I can’t say that is the case here, it does cast suspicion. And the person purported to have run the scam is variously listed as an owner and a former owner. Nothing has been said about any relationship he or the various business entities might have with Tony Soprano.
The question mark is now: How much due diligence did the Kahnawake perform on our behalf to protect the clients they serve through various sites they have licensed?
There isn’t a really good answer here. I don’t think we can ‘Clear our cache.” and rest assured. The one assurance that I have from the Absolute remarks is that the escrow money are still likely controlled by the Mohawks and those who have deposited with them can rest fairly easy.
All we can do now is wait and let what we see in the Kahnawake news release play out:
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) announced today an audit into the current and historic activities of Absolute Poker and interaction with its gaming and financial systems. As a KGC licence holder Absolute Poker is obliged to adhere to the Regulations Concerning Interactive Gaming.
Absolute Poker has agreed to fully cooperate with the KGC and / or its agents.
Mr David Montour, the Commission’s Chairman, said, “This week allegations of impropriety have been bought to the attention of the Kahnawá:ke Gaming Commission. We have appointed experts to conduct a thorough audit of all circumstances, provide findings and recommendations to the Commission. The audit will not be restricted to examining theories circulating in Internet chat rooms and fora”.
The Commission has instructed Gaming Associates to conduct the audit and report to the Commission. Gaming Associates is acknowledged world wide as an expert interactive gaming test and audit house – accredited by regulators worldwide. Gaming Associates’ consultants are pioneers in interactive gaming regulation - recognized as experts in this field since the 1990s, and information security experts.
“It is essential that all online gaming and wagering is conducted in a fair and honest manner where customers are protected. The Kahnawá:ke Gaming Commission is committed to ensuring fair and honest gaming. Nevertheless, it is important that we, as a Commission, act on findings and not allegations alone.” Click HERE to view official press release.
ADDENDUM:
One traditional media sites blog has an article on this situation with some links provided;
My previous two blogs from yesterday talk about the situation. And check out CC and Linda here. They both have written on the situation.
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