Saskatchewan (Canada): gambling regulation and licensing
Part of Canada
- Online casinoMonopoly
- Online sports bettingMonopoly
- Online pokerMonopoly
- iLotteryMonopoly
- Horse race bettingRegulated
- Land-based (reference)Monopoly
- Headline tax
- Not yet verified
- Licence required
- Yes
- Last verified
- 23 Sept 2026
Summary
Saskatchewan runs a provincial monopoly with a First Nations operator at its centre. Under section 207 of the Criminal Code only the province may conduct and manage a lottery scheme, and that role sits with Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan (LGS), a commercial Crown corporation created in 2023. LGS oversees slot machines in the nine casinos, 4,200 VLTs in more than 550 licensed venues, ticket lotteries sold by Sask Sport through the Western Canada Lottery Corporation, and PlayNow, the only legal online gaming site. PlayNow launched on 3 November 2022 on BCLC's platform and offers casino games, keno and sports betting to players aged 19 and over. It is operated by the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) under the Gaming Framework Agreement with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, and its net profits are split 50/50 with the First Nations Trust. Regulation is separate: the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) regulates lottery schemes and horse racing and registers gaming employees and suppliers. There is no gaming tax and no private online licence; the province's share is Crown profit, and a commercial firm's routes in are supply and registration. In the year to 31 March 2026 LGS reported total revenue of $797.7 million and record net income of $400.0 million before payments to the General Revenue Fund. PlayNow revenue was $29.9 million, up 23.4%, with 59,080 registrants. What is changing: an amendment of 31 August 2026 extends SIGA's online exclusivity to 23 September 2029 and commits LGS to assess open market models before then.
Common pitfalls
Confusing SLGA with the operator: SLGA regulates, LGS conducts and manages, and SIGA and SaskGaming operate. Reading LGS's $797.7 million as an online figure: PlayNow is $29.9 million of it, and its 59,080 registrants are registered accounts, not active players. Treating the 2026 open market clause as a decision: it commits LGS only to an assessment. Assuming SLGA still runs VLTs or that SaskGaming runs PlayNow; both moved to LGS in 2023.
Key facts
- Regulator
- Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA)
- Regulator type
- Sub-national body
- Headline tax
- Not yet verified
- Licence required
- Yes
- Minimum age
- 19+
- Tax base
- No gaming tax; there are no private operators and the province takes its share as Crown profit. LGS's net income before payments to the General Revenue Fund was $400.0 million in 2025-26; it paid $160.0 million to the GRF for the statutory and Gaming Framework Agreement beneficiaries and declared dividends of $215.2 million to Crown Investments Corporation.
Legal framework
Primary statutes
- Year
- 1985
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Only a provincial government may conduct and manage a lottery scheme, alone or with another province, in accordance with provincial law (s.207(1)(a)). Charitable and fair licences under s.207(1)(b) to (f) cannot cover games operated on or through a computer, video device or slot machine (s.207(4)(c)), which reserves online gaming to the province. Horse race betting is outside the definition of lottery scheme (s.207(4)(b)).
The Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act, 1997
- Year
- 1997
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Continues the Liquor and Gaming Authority and makes it responsible for the regulation and control of lottery schemes and of horse racing and racetracks (s.12). It requires gaming employees, gaming regulators, suppliers and gaming directors to hold certificates of registration (ss.144 to 147), provides administrative penalties of up to $25,000 (s.39.1), lets SLGA charge LGS its regulatory costs (s.46), requires casinos to refuse self-excluded persons (Part VII.1), defines a minor as a person under 19, and lets First Nation gaming licensing authorities grant on-reserve registrations (Part VII.01).
The Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan Corporation Act
- Year
- 2023
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Chapter 34 of 2023, retroactive to 1 April 2023 with its financial Parts in force on 1 June 2023. Creates LGS as a commercial Crown corporation to oversee the gaming industry and conduct and manage lottery schemes (s.2-7), requires it to comply with the 1997 Act and SLGA directives (s.2-14), continues SaskGaming as its subsidiary, and fixes statutory distributions: up to 50% of online gaming net profits from the SIGA arrangement to the First Nations Trust (s.5-2), up to 25% of SaskGaming casino net profits to the trust (s.5-3), and payments to the Metis Development Fund and Community Initiatives Fund.
- Year
- 1985
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Exempts pari-mutuel betting on horse races, conducted under the federal rules, from the betting offences; the federal basis for race wagering in the province.
Secondary instruments
- Year
- 2002
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- A 25-year agreement signed on 11 June 2002 for First Nations casino gaming through SIGA, extended to 2037 in 2017 and reviewed every five years. The 2021 Amending Agreement added online gaming, with SIGA as exclusive operator for five years and online net profits split 50/50 between the First Nations Trust and the Government; the 2023 amendment added 200 SIGA slot machines; the 2026 amendment extends online exclusivity to 23 September 2029 and adds a gaming centre pilot.
Gaming Framework Agreement, 2026 Amending Agreement (approved by OC 355/2026)
- Year
- 2026
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Dated 31 August 2026. Names LGS as the conduct and management entity for online gaming (s.3B.2), commits the Government to reasonable efforts to keep SIGA the exclusive online provider until 23 September 2029 (s.3B.6), records that LGS will assess open market models during the term with FSIN and SIGA comments due at least 12 months before expiry (s.3B.7), raises SIGA's machine cap to 2,619 and sets up a gaming centre pilot of up to 49 machines on Flying Dust First Nation (Part 3C).
SLGA Supplier Terms and Conditions
- In force
- Yes
- Summary
- Conditions set by SLGA under the 1997 Act and The Gaming Regulations, 2007 for gaming and non-gaming suppliers: disclosure of key persons (including owners of 5% or more), criminal record and financial checks, reimbursement of investigation costs, notice of ownership changes of 5% or more, and five-year certificates kept in force by annual fees.
Key amendments
- 23 Sept 2021The 2021 Amending Agreement to the Gaming Framework Agreement established online gaming, with SIGA as exclusive operator for five years and a 50/50 split of online net profits.
- 1 Jun 2023LGS assumed conduct and management of gaming: VLT management moved from SLGA to LGS and online gaming from SaskGaming to LGS, contracts were transferred to LGS by Order in Council, and lottery regulation moved to SLGA so that regulation and operation sit in separate bodies.
- 31 Aug 2026The 2026 Amending Agreement extended SIGA's online exclusivity to 23 September 2029 and committed LGS to assess open market models.
Pending legislation
LGS assessment of open market models for online gaming
- Stage
- Assessment under s.3B.7 of the 2026 Amending Agreement; FSIN and SIGA comments due no later than 12 months before exclusivity ends on 23 September 2029; no bill published
- Expected
- 23 Sept 2029
- What it changes
- Could open online gaming to operators other than SIGA once the exclusivity period ends; the agreement commits only to an assessment, not to a change.
Licensing
- Licence required
- Yes
- Application window
- Not yet verified
- Local establishment required
- Not yet verified
- Local server required
- Not yet verified
- Notable licensees
- PlayNow Saskatchewan (operated by SIGA for LGS on the BCLC PlayNow platform)
- Barriers to entry
- There is no operator licence for private online gambling. Criminal Code s.207 confines online gaming to the province, LGS conducts and manages it, and SIGA is the exclusive online operator until 23 September 2029 under the Gaming Framework Agreement. The routes in are supply and registration: platform and content supply to PlayNow, which runs on BCLC's platform, gaming supplies or services to casinos and the VLT program under SLGA supplier registration, or a VLT site contract for a liquor-licensed venue. LGS is to assess open market models before exclusivity ends.
Licence types
Certificate of registration: supplier
- Scope
- Anyone supplying gaming or non-gaming supplies or services to casino, VLT or online operations must be registered with SLGA (The Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act, 1997, s.144(3)); SLGA must be satisfied of good character, financial responsibility and capability of the applicant, its principals and anyone interested in it (s.146(1)(c)).
- Term
- Five years unless an earlier date is set, conditional on annual fees
- Fee basis
- Annual fees set by SLGA, plus reimbursement of the reasonable costs of SLGA investigations (s.146(3))
- Renewal terms
- Renewal on application; SLGA may vary conditions at any time (s.146(10))
Certificate of registration: gaming employee, gaming regulator, gaming director
- Scope
- Individuals working in gaming, acting as gaming regulators or as directors of gaming bodies (s.144); on reserve, registrations may be granted by a First Nation gaming licensing authority under Part VII.01.
VLT site contract
- Scope
- Application-driven contract with LGS; the site needs an SLGA tavern or restaurant liquor permit with a lounge endorsement and at least 30 seats in the age-restricted area. New sites receive three VLTs and an 18% commission on net sales.
- Fee basis
- 18% of net VLT sales retained by the site as commission
Charitable gaming licence (Criminal Code s.207(1)(b))
- Scope
- Bingo, raffles, break-open tickets and charity events for charitable or religious organisations, issued by SLGA or, on reserve, by a First Nation gaming licensing authority.
Taxation
- Headline GGR tax
- Not yet verified
- Effective date
- Not yet verified
- VAT treatment
- LGS's tax expense was $16.2 million in 2025-26, mainly property taxes and GST. Statutory payments to the First Nations Trust and the funds are deemed not to be consideration for services under the federal Excise Tax Act (LGS Act ss.5-2(7), 6-5(3) and 7-16(3)).
- Tax base
- No gaming tax; there are no private operators and the province takes its share as Crown profit. LGS's net income before payments to the General Revenue Fund was $400.0 million in 2025-26; it paid $160.0 million to the GRF for the statutory and Gaming Framework Agreement beneficiaries and declared dividends of $215.2 million to Crown Investments Corporation.
Earmarked levies
- Online gaming profit share: 50% of PlayNow net profits (LGS Act s.5-2; 2021 Amending Agreement s.4A.2) (First Nations Trust; the other 50% goes to the Government)
- SIGA casino profit share: 50% of SIGA casino net profits to the First Nations Trust and 25% to Community Development Corporations; 25% to LGS (First Nations Trust and Community Development Corporations)
- SaskGaming casino profit share: 25% of SaskGaming net profits to the First Nations Trust (LGS Act s.5-3) and 25% to the Community Initiatives Fund and Clarence Campeau Development Fund (First Nations Trust, Community Initiatives Fund and Clarence Campeau Development Fund)
- VLT site commission: 18% of net VLT sales (VLT site contractors ($49.0 million in 2025-26))
Compliance
- Minimum age
- 19+
- National self-exclusion
- Game Break (formerly the voluntary self-exclusion program), run by SaskGaming and SIGA, which share a list of banned and Game Break patrons; PlayNow gives Game Break information
- AML regime
- Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. LGS is the designated FINTRAC reporting entity for SaskGaming casinos, PlayNow and SIGA slot operations, has AML delegation agreements with SIGA and SaskGaming, reviews their FINTRAC submissions quarterly and runs an AML working group with the casino operators.
- AML supervisor
- FINTRAC (federal); LGS as reporting entity overseeing operator compliance
- Deposit limits
- PlayNow offers limits, play breaks and pop-up reminders of time and money spent under the GameSense program; no statutory limit is recorded.
- Session limits
- On VLTs players can pre-select a time limit of up to 60 minutes per session, extendable only once before an automatic cash-out; a voluntary Player Services Account also lets players set time and spending limits.
- KYC requirements
- PlayNow uses log-in protection including personal verification questions, and LGS says account registration and money services are provided responsibly. No statutory online identity rule was found in the sources checked.
- Stake limits
- VLTs accept a one-time bill insertion of up to $100 and force a cash-out when the balance reaches $1,750.
- Mandatory player messaging
- GameSense pop-up reminders of time and money spent and problem gambling referral information on PlayNow; on VLTs a permanent clock, amounts shown in dollars and on-screen responsible gambling messages.
- Reporting obligations
- Registered employees, regulators, suppliers and directors file reports with SLGA (The Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act, 1997, s.147); casino operators must notify SLGA of anyone refused access for more than 14 consecutive days (s.147.2(2)); LGS reviews SLGA casino compliance reports quarterly and publishes an annual report.
Advertising
- Advertising permitted
- Yes
Restrictions
- PlayNow adheres to Saskatchewan's Internet Gaming Advertising and Marketing Standards (iGAMS), which prohibit predatory advertising tactics aimed at vulnerable populations such as minors.
- Marketing of PlayNow and of the land-based casinos must not mislead players, misrepresent products or target potentially vulnerable players.
- VLT sites may use only the standard 'VLTs HERE' signs and the new game promotion images LGS supplies; no other VLT advertising is allowed.
Payments
- Credit card ban
- Not yet verified
- Crypto stance
- Not yet verified
- Permitted methods
- Visa, Mastercard and Apple Pay for Lotto Spot mobile lottery tickets
- Currency restrictions
- Mobile lottery tickets can be bought only by players within the WCLC region, and winning mobile tickets up to $1,000 must be validated by a lottery retailer. The placement of a cash machine in a VLT site must be approved by LGS.
Enforcement
- ISP blocking
- Not yet verified
- DNS blocking
- Not yet verified
- Payment blocking
- Not yet verified
- App store takedowns
- Not yet verified
- Administrative penalties
- SLGA or the Liquor and Gaming Licensing Commission may assess a penalty of up to $25,000 against a permittee or registrant that breaches a term or condition, and suspend or cancel the registration (The Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act, 1997, ss.33 and 39.1)
- Criminal penalties
- Contraventions of the 1997 Act without a specific penalty carry fines of up to $10,000 for an individual and $50,000 for a corporation, or up to six months in prison (s.139). Criminal Code Part VII applies to gaming outside s.207.
- Operator liability
- Only the province, through LGS, may conduct and manage a lottery scheme (Criminal Code s.207(1)(a)); LGS describes online sites other than PlayNow as unregulated and illegal. No Saskatchewan provision aimed specifically at offshore online operators, and no action against one, was found in the sources checked.
- Player liability
- No offence for playing on an offshore site was identified. A self-excluded person who enters or tries to enter a casino commits an offence (The Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act, 1997, s.147.4(d)).
Notable actions
- Fraudulent social media ads impersonating Saskatchewan casinos3 Jun 2026
LGS reported that its brand impersonation takedown service removed more than 140 fraudulent ads in its first six months, and warned that no land-based casino or the VLT program has an online version
- Fake websites and social media accounts impersonating Casino Regina and other LGS entities (fiscal year 2025-26)31 Mar 2026
66 removed using brand protection software launched in 2025-26
Market data
Figures on this record are drawn from official regulator data.
- Online GGR
- C$29,874,000 as of 31 Mar 2026
- Reporting year
- 2026
- Year-on-year growth
- 23.4%
Timeline
11 Jun 2002
Province and FSIN sign the 25-year Gaming Framework Agreement governing SIGA casinos, reviewed every five years.
23 Oct 2017
Gaming Framework Agreement extended by 10 years to 2037.
23 Sept 2021
Amending agreement adds online gaming, with SIGA as exclusive operator for five years and a 50/50 split of online net profits.
27 Oct 2022
Government announces Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan as a new Crown corporation, with lottery regulation consolidated in SLGA.
3 Nov 2022
PlayNow.com launches as the province's first legal online gaming platform, operated by SIGA on BCLC's platform.
1 Jun 2023
LGS takes over conduct and management of gaming as the financial Parts of its 2023 Act come into force and contracts are transferred to it.
15 Jun 2023
2023 Amending Agreement: 200 more SIGA slot machines and wider Indigenous Gaming Regulators powers.
3 Jun 2026
LGS warns of fake casino ads after its takedown service removes more than 140 in six months.
23 Jun 2026
LGS reports record 2025-26 net income of $400.0 million before GRF payments; PlayNow revenue $29.9 million.
26 Aug 2026
Order in Council 355/2026 approves a further amending agreement with the FSIN.
31 Aug 2026
2026 Amending Agreement extends SIGA's online exclusivity to 23 September 2029, commits LGS to assess open market models and adds a gaming centre pilot.
7 Oct 2026
Supreme Court of Canada hears the appeal on Ontario's international play model; Saskatchewan is not a party.
23 Sept 2029
SIGA's online exclusivity period ends unless extended.
Outlook
SIGA's online exclusivity now runs to 23 September 2029, and under the 2026 Amending Agreement LGS will assess open market models during that term, with FSIN and SIGA comments due at least 12 months before it ends; any move to competitive licensing would follow that assessment, not precede it. A 49-machine gaming centre pilot on Flying Dust First Nation is to be reviewed before the 2032 review of the Gaming Framework Agreement. The Supreme Court of Canada hears the appeal on Ontario's international play model on 7 October 2026 (file 42141); Saskatchewan is not a party, but the ruling will settle how far any province's online scheme may reach beyond its borders.
Frequently asked questions
- Is online gambling legal in Saskatchewan?
- Yes, through one site. PlayNow.com, conducted and managed by LGS and operated by SIGA, has been the province's only legal online gaming site since 3 November 2022. Private operators cannot be licensed under Criminal Code section 207.
- Who regulates gambling in Saskatchewan?
- The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority regulates lottery schemes and horse racing and registers gaming employees and suppliers. Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan, a Crown corporation, conducts and manages casinos, VLTs, lotteries and online gaming.
- Will Saskatchewan open its online market to private operators?
- Not before 23 September 2029, when SIGA's exclusivity under the 2026 Amending Agreement ends. The agreement says LGS will assess open market models during that period; it does not commit to opening the market.
- How big is the online market?
- PlayNow revenue was $29.9 million in the year to 31 March 2026, up 23.4%, with net income of $12.4 million and 59,080 registrants. That is 3.7% of LGS's total revenue of $797.7 million, a figure that counts lotteries only through Sask Sport's licence fee.
- How is gambling taxed in Saskatchewan?
- There is no gaming tax. The province takes Crown profit, and PlayNow net profits are split 50/50 with the First Nations Trust. LGS paid $160.0 million to the General Revenue Fund in 2025-26.
- How does a supplier get into the Saskatchewan market?
- By registering with SLGA as a supplier, which requires good character and financial responsibility checks on the company and its key persons. Certificates run for five years, subject to annual fees and the cost of SLGA investigations.
Sources
- The Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act, 1997, SS 1997 c A-18.011 (consolidated to 2025 c 27)
King's Printer for Saskatchewan (publications.saskatchewan.ca)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - The Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan Corporation Act, SS 2023 c 34 (effective 1 April 2023)
King's Printer for Saskatchewan (publications.saskatchewan.ca)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 1 Aug 2023 - Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan, 2025-26 Annual Report (year to 31 March 2026)
Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan (via saskatchewan.ca)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 23 Jun 2026 - Another Strong Year for Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan (news release, 23 June 2026)
Government of Saskatchewan
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 23 Jun 2026 - SaskGaming Celebrates the Launch of the PlayNow.com Online Gaming Platform (news release, 3 November 2022)
Government of Saskatchewan
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 3 Nov 2022 - Government Announces New Crown Corporation, Changes to the Structure of Lotteries and Gaming (news release, 27 October 2022)
Government of Saskatchewan
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 27 Oct 2022 - Changes to the Gaming Framework Agreement Between FSIN and Saskatchewan (news release, 15 June 2023)
Government of Saskatchewan
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 15 Jun 2023 - Additional $46 Million in Gaming Payments for First Nation and Metis Organizations in 2025-26 (news release, 17 March 2026)
Government of Saskatchewan
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 17 Mar 2026 - Government and FSIN Extend SIGA's Online Exclusivity and Announce Gaming Centre Pilot (news release, 31 August 2026)
Government of Saskatchewan
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 31 Aug 2026 - Saskatchewan Gaming Trusts and Grants (Ministry of Government Relations)
Government of Saskatchewan
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Order in Council 355/2026, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Amending Agreement, Gaming Framework Agreement (September 2029), signed 26 August 2026
King's Printer for Saskatchewan (publications.saskatchewan.ca)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 26 Aug 2026 - Gaming Framework Agreement, 2021 Amending Agreement (online gaming), 23 September 2021
Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 23 Sept 2021 - Gaming Framework Agreement, 2026 Amending Agreement, 31 August 2026 (scanned document)
Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 31 Aug 2026 - Gaming Framework Agreement (history of the 2002 agreement and its amendments)
Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Frequently Asked Questions (casinos, VLTs, lotteries, profit distribution)
Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Obtaining VLTs (site eligibility, commission, minors, advertising)
Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Responsible Gambling: Our Commitment to You
Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Don't Fall for Fake Casino Ads Online (news release, 3 June 2026)
Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 3 Jun 2026 - Lotto Spot App: buy, build and check tickets
Sask Lotteries (Sask Sport, provincial lottery marketing organisation)
Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Supplier Terms and Conditions (supplier registration under The Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act, 1997 and The Gaming Regulations, 2007)
Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority
slga.com timed out from this network on 2026-09-23; the document was read from the Internet Archive capture of 18 February 2026.
Archived copyTier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Criminal Code (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46), section 207, Permitted lotteries
Department of Justice Canada (Justice Laws Website)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Criminal Code (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46), section 204, pari-mutuel betting exemption
Department of Justice Canada (Justice Laws Website)
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026 - Case 42141: Atlantic Lottery Corporation, et al. v. Attorney General of Ontario (docket; hearing 7 October 2026)
Supreme Court of Canada
Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026