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Saskatchewan Opens Up Casinos
Casinos in Saskatchewan were shut down in December 2020 due to COVID restrictions. The initial plan was to reopen in January 2021, but that didn’t happen. This had a detrimental effect on the economy, forcing some businesses to close and, consequently, having many people lose their jobs. Luckily enough, the expected news ‘Saskatchewan opens up casinos’ arrived in June 2021.
Progressively, from June until September 2021, SK casinos started reopening, but with certain limitations. They began with a 15% capacity limit and carried out strict safety programs. Not only employers but also employees suffered the consequences of the COVID restrictions, many of whom were part of the First Nation communities across the province.
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations created the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) in 1995, authorized by the First Nations Gaming Act. Zane Hansen, current chief of SIGA (Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority), said COVID-19 restrictions were notoriously harsh on associations like his. Although SIGA’s casinos reported a major profit in 2018 and 2019, the recent losses made Hansen focus on reopening the casinos asap.
Nowadays, SIGA is still recovering from the COVID crisis. Unfortunately, the ones who probably took the worst part were its employees. On the other hand, the best SK online casinos were operational during the pandemic and could be played by gamblers who could not make it to the physical casinos.
When Will Casinos Open in Saskatchewan – SIGA Must Be Heard
This extract is dedicated to the non-profit organization SIGA, the most prominent association that creates employment for First Nation people. The employees belonging to the several Native American tribes had to be heard when they asked: ‘When will casinos open in Saskatchewan?’, considering that 100% of the casino’s net income goes to these communities.
Nobody had the answer to the question: ‘When will casinos reopen in Saskatchewan?’. Nevertheless, thanks to SIGA’s president Zane Hansen, who worked from minute one to find answers to an unprecedented worldwide crisis, the whole reopening process was sped up. Now, most employees are back to their working positions, and their families can continue their normal lives.
Despite what we have just mentioned, SIGA must still develop economically to keep growing as it was before the pandemic. Let’s have a better insight into how SIGA casinos work. To start with, First Nations and Tribal Council partners become the landlords for the land and the facility on which the casino is located.
Then, SIGA enters into facility and land lease agreements that become long-term profit arrangements for both, the First Nations and the Tribal Councils. SIGA provides top-of-the-line entertainment across six Saskatchewan casinos which offer slots, live and electronic table games, live events, and restoration services. Have a look at them below:
- Painted Hand Casino in Yorkton.
- Northern Lights Casino in Prince Albert.
- Living Sky Casino and Sky Centre in Swift Current.
- Gold Eagle Casino in North Battleford.
- Bear Claw Casino and Hotel in Carlyle.
- Dakota Dunes Casino in Saskatoon.
SIGA’s employees provide top-notch customer service that comes from traditional hospitality. Different but probably equally competent customer service is what you will find on the best online casinos in Canada. To conclude, but no less important, SIGA has made a commitment to promote responsible gambling to minimize potential harm.
SaskGaming – Government Corporation
SaskGaming is a crown corporation established in 1996 and owned by the government of Saskatchewan. It is the owner of two casinos in the province, the casino in Regina, and the casino in Moose Jaw. It is regulated by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA). SaskGaming welcomes millions of visitors at its casinos every year and it employs a diverse workforce.
Such has been SaskGaming’s activity that in 2008 it was named one of the best 100 Canada’s employers. In April 2023, the corporation will be transferred to the new organisation Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan (LGS). No need to mention that SaskGaming promotes responsible gambling, and it generates economic benefits for the community.
SaskGaming pays 50% of its income to support the government’s commitment to the First Nations. The corporation also provides payments to its shareholder, the Crown Investments corporation. The corporation has diverse backgrounds, it carries out its commitments with passion and looks for new ways to constantly improve its skills, knowledge, and products.
If you are a gambler travelling around Canada, you must know that there are many First Nation casinos in Canada which are worth a visit. In the US there are also casinos run by Native Americans, which share some similarities with the Canadian ones. All the First Nation casinos are unique and deliver an unforgettable experience upon every visit.
Saskatchewan Casinos
As we have previously mentioned in the two extracts above, Saskatchewan counts on eight operative casinos. There are six establishments which are owned by Saskatchewan First Nations, and two by the SaskGaming crown corporation. We have taken some time to gather some key information about these casinos in the table below:
| 🐻 Bear Claw Casino and Hotel | It’s in Carlyle and has over 135 games on the gaming playground and top-notch resort facilities. |
| ✋ Painted Hand Casino | This casino is in Yorkton, and it has over 230 games that include slots and table games. It also has one restaurant. |
| 🀃 Northern Lights Casino | This establishment is in Prince Albert and has over 600 games, incredible restaurants and a lounge area. |
| 🎰 Dakota Dunes Casino | The Dakota Dunes Casino is situated near Saskatoon and features 620 slot machines, 18 table games, a shows venue with up to 570 capacity and a banquet area with 450 seats. |
| 🌆 Living Sky Casino & Sky Centre | Located in Swift Current, it hosts over 200 slots which include some top progressive jackpots. However, there’re no traditional table games. It also has rooms to accommodate its guests and a banquet area with a live stage in it. |
| 🦅 Gold Eagle Casino | It’s in North Battleford and you can enjoy 335 slot machines, 3 blackjack tables, roulette, and poker. It also has 3 delicious restaurant options. |
| 🏢 Casino Moose Jaw | This governmental casino has over 200 games in its gaming area, a restaurant and a bar. |
| 🏨 Casino Regina | This other governmental casino has over 800 slots, several table games, a restaurant, a bar, and a lounge area where to celebrate events. |
The establishments above are top-of-the-line casinos that are worth a visit if you ever travel to the province of Saskatchewan. If you’re interested in gambling, by visiting one or more of these casinos you won’t only have an enjoyable time, but you’ll also help the Saskatchewan communities and the province’s economy. Remember to play responsibly.
Needless to say, all the casinos we have mentioned follow the gambling laws in Canada. Being the second largest country in the world by area, Canada has a long and interesting history with gambling. Therefore, its laws have been changing throughout the years, like the legal gambling age, which now varies between 18 and 19 years old.
Conclusion
To conclude, regarding the question: ‘When are casinos reopening in Saskatchewan?’, we have said that they have been open for over a year. They all started with strict restrictions; however, they are now fully operational. Whereas SIGA and SaskGaming are still economically recovering from the COVID-19 crisis, they have done all they could to maintain their employees’ stability.
FAQs
This article about the reopening of Saskatchewan casinos has come to an end. However, we have taken some time to include some of the most frequently asked questions for you to resolve any doubts you might have. Keep in mind that they will jump to your paragraph of interest. We hope that you’ll find them helpful.
