Quebec: Kahnawake casino owners sue Mohawk council, grand chief for $220 million

Friday, May 16, 2025 3:07 PM
Image aggregated from The Canadian Press.
  • The Canadian Press

Two owners of a casino in a First Nations community southwest of Montreal are suing the territory’s council for more than $200 million [US$157 million].

They say the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake ignored their right to due process when it abruptly shut down the Magic Palace casino in March 2024.

The closure followed a 2023 news report that alleged the RCMP were investigating an Albanian investor they suspected of using the casino to launder money for a Mexican cartel.

The lawsuit also targets Grand Chief Cody Diabo, who was the Kahnawake chief responsible for gaming at the time. It claims the Mohawk council’s actions will lead to the permanent closure of the casino unless the court intervenes.