The Government of Saskatchewan and the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations approved an extension of SIGA’s exclusive online gaming agreement until September 2029 on August 31, 2026.

The agreement keeps PlayNow.com as Saskatchewan’s only legal online gaming platform. The same announcement approved a pilot for up to 49 slot machines at Flying Dust First Nation near Meadow Lake.

The decision extends online exclusivity while expanding land-based gaming. Its main test will be whether existing safeguards work at the new site.

What changes in Saskatchewan

The pilot is planned as part of a commercial development at Flying Dust First Nation. The provincial government said the development is expected to include a strip mall, hotel and conference centre.

The amended Gaming Framework Agreement was approved by the Government of Saskatchewan and the Chiefs in Assembly. It sets the terms for First Nations gaming development, including the operation of First Nations casinos.

  • Online exclusivity for SIGA continues until September 2029.
  • The pilot may add up to 49 slot machines.
  • SIGA’s total slot-machine allocation will rise to 2,619.
  • PlayNow.com remains the province’s only legal online gaming platform.

PlayNow launched in Saskatchewan on November 3, 2022. SIGA markets and offers online casino, poker and sports betting products. BCLC provides online gaming services to SIGA, according to a SIGA shareholder newsletter.

Existing player safeguards

GameSense is the responsible-gambling framework used by SIGA and SaskGaming. PlayNow offers several tools to help players manage their activity.

  • Weekly deposit limits.
  • Daily or weekly playing-time limits.
  • Hourly session reminders.
  • Short-term account lockouts lasting from 24 hours to 90 days.

Players can also use Game Break, a longer-term self-exclusion program. PlayNow’s online self-exclusion periods range from six months to five years.

The PlayNow player agreement says eligibility may also be affected by voluntary or involuntary exclusion at Saskatchewan casinos where SIGA or SaskGaming has an operational role.

The 2023-24 Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan annual report says SIGA and SaskGaming share a list of banned and Game Break patrons. Both operators use GameSense and responsible-gambling certification programs at their casinos.

What the pilot must clarify

The August 31 announcement does not set out new player-protection requirements specifically for the Flying Dust pilot. Implementation details will be established as the project moves forward.

Online and land-based gambling involve different control points. PlayNow verifies that users are at least 19, are Saskatchewan residents and are physically located in the province.

The platform uses identity checks, credit-bureau validation and location data collected during login and play. At a physical gaming centre, safeguards depend more heavily on staff intervention, identification checks and exclusion records.

The shared Game Break system gives operators a common record. The public announcement does not explain how the new site will be staffed, audited or evaluated.

  • Whether the site will use the same Game Break procedures as SIGA’s existing casinos.
  • How exclusion information will be updated and checked at the venue.
  • What reports will measure complaints, breaches and referrals for help.
  • How the province will assess the pilot before any further expansion.

The Saskatchewan Problem Gambling Help Line is available at 1-800-306-6789. PlayNow also offers GameSense advisers through customer support and live chat.

For Saskatchewan, the decision combines a longer period of online exclusivity with a targeted expansion of land-based gaming. The next public test will be whether the existing safeguards are applied consistently and whether the province publishes evidence on their performance.