An Outlook On Saskatchewan & Gambling

Located in the west-central parts of Canada, Saskatchewan is the only province which doesn't have natural borders. With an estimated population of about 1,142,570 people, it ranks as the 6th most populous province in the country.

Visiting Saskatchewan casinos is a great idea for both locals and visitors, as are the casino online sites that are available to residents within the province. The following page presents information on:

  • A brief history of how gambling came about
  • The local rules & legal provisions which regulate online & offline gambling
  • The top casinos that you should visit in the area
Quick Facts
  • There are 8 casinos in the province of Saskatchewan
  • There is a total of 1,870 slot machines in SIGA casinos and 995 in SaskGaming casinos
  • There are 629 Video Lottery Terminals (VLT) across the province of Saskatchewan
BEST CANADIAN ONLINE CASINOS

The Introduction of Gambling

Introduction of Gambling

Back in 1497, John Cabot found out that the native population of Canada played a wide range of games of chance. Unfortunately, in 1892 The Criminal Code of Canada declared an absolute ban on all gambling activities. However, different forms of gambling became legal over the years and currently gambling has managed to become a national pastime. When it comes to Saskatchewan, in the early 90s, the 74 First Nations formally established SIGA (Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority). The most historic casino of SIGA is Bear Claw Casino, which opened its doors back in 1993.

The Government's Take on Casinos

There are two non-First Nations casinos here and they are both regulated by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA). The management of these establishments is handled by the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation as well as the Western Canada Lottery Corporation. Furthermore, the EGMs (Electronic Gaming Machines) are strictly overseen and regulated conducted by SLGA, while they are operated by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation.

Horse racing is also big in Saskatchewan, currently regulated by the Pari-Mutuel Agency of Canada and the SLGA, while it's operated by non-profit organizations and exhibition associations. Ticket lotteries, on the other hand, are regulated by the Ministry of Tourism. Following are the three major casinos in the province of Saskatchewan.

Popular Saskatchewan Casinos

Casino Regina

Casino Regina

  • 1880 Saskatchewan Dr.
    Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 0B2
  • (800) 555-3189
  • casinoregina.com

By far the largest casino in the entire province and located in the capital city, they've built a loyal customer base within the province. The casino is open every day from 9am - 4am and is only closed on the 24th & 25th December. It includes a total of 780 Video Poker (VP) and slot machines along with 33 table games. The Regina Casino covers a total area of 100,000 square feet, which gives players ample space to play and socialize freely whilst wagering their cash. Some popular games you can enjoy include Red Dog, Roulette, Let it Ride, and Baccarat.

Bear Claw Casino and Hotel

Bear Claw Casino and Hotel

Owned and operated by SIGA, this First Nations Casino is the most characteristic. The casino operates from 12am to 12pm on Sunday, from 10am to 12am Monday to Thursday, and from 10am to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. You can enjoy a total of 133 real cash slot and VP machines. There are 5 table games in total and the overall area is approximately 15,000 square feet. Some of the games that you can enjoy include American Roulette, Let it Ride, and Multiple Action Blackjack.

Northern Lights Casino

Northern Lights Casino

This casino is a major gambling venue in Saskatchewan, with the gorgeous Starlight Lounge that hosts several entertainment events. It's a large casino covering a total area of more than 36,200 square feet. It offers players a chance to choose from one out of the 394 real money video poker or slot machines. It boasts 2 poker tables and a total of 15 table games, for those who want to wager their Canadian Dollars against the house. Some of the interesting games that you might want to try out include Red Dog, Roulette, Caribbean Stud Poker, and Blackjack.

Gambling in Popular Cities

Saskatoon

Dakota Dunes Casino is a highly revered casino that accommodates players from Saskatoon and beyond. Located to the south of Saskatoon along Highway 219, the 84,000 square foot casino is big enough to hold all the games you enjoy playing. The sprawling casino floor has been stocked with the latest, must-play slot games in addition to your favourite table games. The slot games featured in the portfolio can be played in denominations ranging from as little as five cents all the way to C$100 for a total of 500 slots machines including 200 exciting new games in its floor.

In addition to the thrilling casino games, Dakota Dunes also features stylish amenities, high speed internet connectivity, and an 18-hole golf course which was made accessible to the public in 2004. The casino's 18-hole golf course is the same one hosting the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open on PGA Tour Canada.

If you feel like enjoying more variety beyond this casino, you can always visit Bear Claw Casino, right off Highway 9. Based on more than 30,000 square feet of gaming area, including a gift shop and restaurant, this casino is a great option for locals. Enjoy your time in the live games area that has classic poker and blackjack tables.

Regina

The capital of Saskatchewan, Regina is the second largest city in the province after Saskatoon. The city offers limited gambling options to residents, however, the one casino is enough to fulfill any player's appetite for casino games. Located at an old train station, Casino Regina is aimed at providing an exclusive gaming experience while preserving Saskatchewan's rail history that dates back to 1911.

The casino has a rich history, which makes it all the more fun to play at! Casino Regina has historic jail cells in the basement which were once used to hold criminals, who were eventually transported elsewhere by train.

The casino promises to offer an enthralling experience to those who visit. The casino's non-stop action on the floor includes more than 800 slots games, 10 table poker rooms, and 40 table games. In addition to this, it also has an entertainment room open 24 hours to provide guests with continuous entertainment. If you want to take a break from gaming, you can always visit the Last Spike Restaurant on the casino floor, which offers much beyond a dinner. You can also enjoy a show, sip on your favourite drink, and taste delectable food from Red Seal Certified Chefs.

Exploring Further Local Gaming Options

gaming options

The province of Saskatchewan has no shortage of land-based casinos and you can take your pick based on the city you've decided to visit. There are both First Nations and non-First Nations casinos in Saskatchewan, so the field is wide open in terms of choice.

To make things easier for yourself, you can always go ahead and jump on a casino online if you feel like any of the land-based ones lack the games you enjoy playing. We've pulled together our list of the best Saskatchewan casino online sites for you to browse through, we're certain you'll find one that suits you.

Visit our top Saskatchewan casinos online!

FAQ

Gambling in Canada is generally allowed for people who have turned 19. There are, however, three provinces which allow gambling when you turn 18 and these are Quebec, Manitoba, and Alberta. Minors are highly advised to avoid any kind of gambling activity as this might get them into potential complications and legal trouble.
Conventional gambling is thoroughly regulated in the province of Saskatchewan. The SLGA (Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority) is in charge of supervising the non-First Nations casinos, which are Casino Moose Jaw and Casino Regina. On the other hand, the SIGA (Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority) controls the six First Nations casinos in the province.
If you are just a casual gambler and realize profits off gambling every now and then, you won't be required to pay taxes on them. However, if you are a professional gambler and use this as means of making a living, your earnings are going to be taxed.
Saskatchewan is one of the provinces with the clearest legal regulations that govern conventional land-based gambling. The revenues which are realized as a result of these establishments are substantial. This, in combination with the fact that this form of entertainment is spreading across the entire country, surely means that we could see the construction and launch of new Saskatchewan casino online sites.
In order to remain safe in the online casino you should make a real effort to avoid revealing any of your private information while playing at the casino. Any quality casinos won't have employees that ask for your information, so don't fall for revealing your information just because someone says they are an employee. You should also look at the prospective casino for information about its license as well as the eCOGRA stamp of approval to ensure that you are working with a safe and reliable casino.