Saskatchewan Online Casinos

Richard Hayes
Richard Hayes

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Here you will find information on the best online casinos in Saskatchewan available to residents and visitors of the province, as well as useful information about responsible gambling and the criteria for legality of online casinos in this province.

Top-10 Online Casinos Saskatchewan

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Rating
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Games
Saskatchewan Casinos History

History of gambling in Saskatchewan

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  • 1

    Just before 1900, gambling was still illegal in Canada, but with the advent of the 20th century, Canadian authorities allowed local residents to participate in lotteries and bingo to raise money for charities.

  • 2

    1974 saw the introduction of a law that allowed federal and provincial authorities to organize lotteries and then use the proceeds to finance municipal projects.

  • 3

    In 1996, several licenses were issued to open land-based casinos in Saskatchewan, namely the Bear Claw, Painted Hand, Gold Eagle and Northern Lights casinos. The casinos were opened under the control of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority – SIGA. Currently, the number of land-based casinos has grown to seven.

  • 4

    After the Canadian government allowed provinces and territories to legalize and regulate online gambling within their jurisdictions in 2004, it was several more years before Saskatchewan had its own online casinos.

  • 5

    In 2012, the province of Saskatchewan offered local gamblers its own online gambling resource regulated by local authorities. The online casino was called NorthernBearCasino.com and operated under a First Nations Tribal Treaty under an existing White Bear First Nation casino license. Despite the license, the legality of this casino was not finally established and two years later it was closed.

  • 6

    In early November 2022, the province launched the online gaming site PlayNow.com, operated by SaskGaming, a corporation controlled by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA). The site uses the British Columbia Lottery Corporation’s (BCLC) PlayNow.com platform. As a result, the online gaming platform is in partnership with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Peoples (FSIN) and SLGA, so that revenue is shared between the province and First Nations. By the way, in addition to Saskatchewan and British Columbia (the owner of the platform), this platform is also available in Manitoba.

Legality of Online and Offline Gambling in Saskatchewan

As mentioned, the only locally regulated online gambling site is operated by SaskGaming, also known as the Saskatchewan Crown Corp.

The regulatory body for all SaskGaming casinos is the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA), which also oversees racetracks.

Residents and visitors to the province can play at any online casino site available in Saskatchewan. We are talking not only about the officially regulated PlayNow, but also about offshore online casinos, which are not subject to prohibitions by Canadian regulatory authorities.

According to provincial law, a player must be 19 years old to gamble while in the province of Saskatchewan. At the same time, winnings neither in the government-regulated PlayNow nor in offshore online casinos are taxed, unless, of course, the game is a way of earning money for the gamblers and they themselves are not professional gamblers.

Residents and visitors are free to play at any online casino site of their choice. Gaming sites located outside of Canada do not require a provincial or federal license. Online casino winnings are not taxed in Saskatchewan or anywhere else in the country.For lottery services, which include lottery drawings and retail drawings, these services – both online and offline – are operated by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC). This corporation operates lottery and gaming-related activities in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. For completeness purposes only, please note that the Northwest Territories, Nunavud and Yukon Territories are affiliated members of the WCLC.

Residents of the province of Saskatchewan can purchase lottery subscriptions online exclusively through the provincial marketing organization “Saskatchewan Lotteries” and not through PlayNow online lotteries.

Criteria for legality of online casinos in Saskatchewan

The only officially regulated local online casino in Saskatchewan is fully compliant with Canadian authorities. Therefore, MyBestCasino experts evaluate offshore casinos available to residents of the province of Saskatchewan. The assessment is carried out according to the following criteria: availability of a license, security of the gambler’s personal data, support services, withdrawal of winnings, availability of a mobile application, etc.

Availability of a license

It is better to trust your money only to a licensed casino that is authorized and approved by the gambling regulator. The license can be issued by the regulatory authorities of a specific country - Great Britain, Sweden, Belgium, etc. or by the authorities of the jurisdiction including Curacao and Gibraltar. In the first case, the government collects taxes from players, in the second, it simply checks the casino and, if the check is positive, allows it to operate.

Variety of games

It is worth evaluating the entire offer, the variety of games and checking which providers a particular casino cooperates with. A guarantee of reliability is the availability of slots from industry leaders such as Microgaming and NetEnt. But even if the names of the providers are not very well known, you should not suspect them of dishonesty. Information about developers' licenses should be on the casino website, and it is not difficult to verify the authenticity of this license.

Game certification

It is important that the games are certified, which is a mandatory requirement for reliable, licensed online casinos. Certification means that a special organization has verified that the stated return percentage corresponds to the real one, the operation of the random number generator and other criteria. Typically slot certification is carried out by the Australian iTech Labs or the British eCOGRA. Such checks are carried out both during the release of the game and after it is posted on Saskatchewan online gambling sites.

Technical support

Technical support is the only way of direct communication between the casino administration and its users. Moreover, this is not only a way for the administration to resolve technical issues, but also a way to maintain trust of the players from Saskatchewan and show them the respect and willingness to help. The most common methods of technical support are live chat, email and feedback form. How quickly and competently technical support responds to user requests says a lot about the level of Saskatchewan online casinos as a whole.

Deposit and withdrawal methods

In order to choose an online casino, it is important to pay attention to financial issues - methods of depositing and withdrawing funds. Reliable casinos offer a variety of payment systems and services: from bank cards to cryptocurrencies and electronic wallets. Our experts take into account, among other things, the number of payment systems supported by the site: the more there are, the higher the rating will be. You should also carefully study the site rules and become familiar with them.

Fees for deposits and withdrawals

In some cases, payment terms take 5 to 7 days, which should be a concern. The gold standard is to process withdrawal requests within 24 hours. Payout limits for a certain period of time - per day or per week. The greater the casino capital, the higher these limits.

Modern design and user-friendly interface

The first impression of an online casino is created through its design. A modern, laconic design and user-friendly interface with a convenient search method and division into categories allows the player to easily find on the site exactly those games in which he wants to place a bet. A complex design with an inconvenient interface creates confusion and irritation among players. An additional bonus to the level of player loyalty is the presence of a mobile app.

Honesty of advertising offers

Bonuses are one of the win-win options to attract gamblers to online casinos. The best “Sask casinos” offer their visitors bonuses of varying sizes and conditions, but you need to be careful when registering to receive them. Sometimes the rules of even the most “delicious” bonuses require very difficult wagering conditions. For example, wagering requirements may be 50x or higher, and then a gambler, having deposited $100 into their gaming account, must wager $5,000 before they can withdraw the winnings.

TOP-5 Land-based Casinos in Saskatchewan

Gold Horse Casino

Saskatchewan’s land-based Golden Horse Casino opened in 2018 in Lloydminster and spans nearly 35,000 square feet. On this grandiose territory there are three restaurants, a gaming area with 250+ slot machines and 18 video terminals, as well as an Event Center for 200+ people, where various non-gaming events take place, for example, banquets, weddings, and business meetings.

On the territory of the entertainment complex, which belongs to Gold Horse Casino, concerts and parties are held, for example, performances of famous bands, piano battles or burlesque shows. For players, the casino offers not only slots and video terminals, but also live table games – blackjack, roulette, poker, etc. Almost all live games are offered to guests daily, except for poker, which is currently open from Thursday to Saturday from 6 PM.

Gold Eagle Casino

The land-based Gold Eagle Casino opened in 1996 in North Battleford on the Yellowhead Highway. Visitors enjoy a gaming area with 325 slot machines, 7 tables for table games including poker, roulette and blackjack, as well as the opportunity to play progressive jackpot slot machines. In addition to casino games, gamblers can visit three restaurants – Deli & Bar, Kookum’s Kitchen, Kihiw Restaurant, which are open daily until late at night.

In addition, the convenience of the Gold Eagle casino is that next to the gaming area there is the Gold Eagle Lodge, a hotel with 100+ comfortable rooms that has received the status of ‘3-Diamond Approved Lodging’ with CAA/AAA. The hotel features an indoor pool, gym, and a business center with facilities for seminars and conferences.

Bear Claw Casino & Hotel

The world’s most historic Indigenous-owned casino opened in 1996 and is located in the Elk Mountains. Three years earlier, the Bear Claw Casino opened near Carlisle, Saskatchewan, but was closed due to disputes between the provincial government and First Nations. Bear Claw Casino features not only 30,000 square feet of gaming space, but also ample RV parking, a Bear Claw Hotel and an outdoor event area.

At Bear Claw Casino, users have access to 140 slot machines, progressive jackpot slots and The Circuit games – electronic table games of baccarat, roulette, blackjack and live dealer poker. Guests are also offered a variety of promotional offers, from birthday promotions to seasonal tournaments.

Dakota Dunes Casino

The land-based Dakota Dunes Casino is located in the Whitecap First Nation, a provincial historic district. Players who visit this land-based casino receive not only a full range of games, but also personalized service. For those who prefer to make large bets, the High Limit Room is open – a room for VIP players, zoned for playing baccarat and blackjack.

The gambling area at Dakota Dunes is quite extensive (80,000 square feet) and contains 620 slot machines, 18 table games including electronic baccarat and blackjack tables, and more. In addition to gaming, guests at Dakota Dunes Casino also have four restaurants and the Dakota Dunes Resort. The hotel features nearly 160 guest rooms, 10,000 square feet of comfortable banquet and meeting space, a spa and other family-friendly amenities.

Casino Regina & Show Lounge

Visitors will find over 800 slots with themed games based on popular films and shows. They also have slot tournaments on slots with progressive jackpots spanning several Canadian provinces. In addition, Regina Casino has 20+ table games and 60 touch betting terminals for blackjack, roulette, poker, baccarat, and chase flush games. There are organized poker tournaments.

Casino guests also have a spacious Event Center with a stage for concerts and shows. Popular celebrities, bands and show makers are invited. The main floor can be rented for banquets, press conferences and seminars. Guests can also enjoy service in three restaurants, one of which is open 24 hours on some days, and the other two until late at night.

Responsible gambling in Saskatchewan

For all gaming operators in Saskatchewan, the term “responsible gaming” means that the human player has the correct understanding of the game. And it doesn’t matter whether we are talking about betting on sports, casino or bingo. The game is primarily an emotion. Yes, a person can win, but the game cannot be considered as a way to make money – it is just a chance to win. And each player independently assesses their chances. The main thing is to have fun, and not to submit to a conditional chance of winning.

Responsible gaming is financial literacy. A person must be able to plan their budget. In particular, to plan their expenses not only for vital things, but also for entertainment, clearly realizing what part of their income they can spend and not harm themselves financially.

Responsible gaming has age restrictions. First of all, the exclusion of minors from the game. Teenagers, in the overwhelming majority, do not perceive the game as entertainment. On the contrary, they believe that they can earn a lot of money through the game, and thus fall into a financial and psychological trap.

Responsible gaming is a responsible attitude on the part of the operator. After all, a legal operator is aimed at long-term investments in this business. Therefore, they do not want to cause public discontent and negative attitudes towards their business.

Responsible gaming is fair advertising. And this should be regulated at the legislative level. There must be clear and understandable advertising rules.

Responsible gaming means unlimited access to information. Among other things, there are educational events aimed at developing a responsible attitude towards gambling and increasing the financial literacy of the population.

Leading operators offering their services in Saskatchewan are actively developing software for online collection of user data for cross-selling, to reduce the burden on people with gambling addiction, to prevent fraudulent activities, for forecasts and warnings about the negative impact of gambling.

Such analytics are necessary to establish direct communication with the player. After all, some people will be better served by a message and a warning in the chat, while others will need to call. For some, it is enough to highlight an ‘icon’ on the page for the player to come to their senses and analyze their actions. In essence, analytics is paving the way for the implementation of the principles of responsible gaming and the responsible attitude towards the game of all participants in the process.

The Problem Gambling Helpline provides free 24-hour help to people with gambling problems and their families. Call 1-800-306-6789.

Practical Advice – the Basics of Responsible Gambling for Beginners

Clearly decide on your budget for the game. This is the money you are willing to invest in entertainment. The player must be aware of exactly how much he can and wants to spend. In this case, the negative will be leveled out, because you will spend exactly as much as you planned on entertainment. But it is important to stick to these plans.

Use the budget allocated specifically for entertainment for the game, and not the money that you need for everyday life, set aside for training or purchasing necessary things.

Not trying to “win back” the money you lost is a road to nowhere. They say that if you are unlucky in a game for a long time, then you will definitely be very lucky – but this is just a myth. After all, in order to return the lost money, you need to invest twice as much in the next game – this is evidenced by simple mathematical calculations. And no one guarantees you a win, and disappointment can be very strong.

Understand that playing is only one type of entertainment. It should not affect your daily life: work, study, communication with friends and family, and other hobbies.

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