Saskatchewan is taking one step closer to officially having an Online Gaming option after SIGA (Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority), other stakeholders, and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) officially signed a vendor agreement on Thursday, June 2, for the BCLC to begin development on the Online Gaming site. 

A release from SIGA states that after an extensive RFP process, BCLC has been selected to provide its turn-key Online Gaming Portal option. BCLC’s platform PlayNow.com will now be customized for the Saskatchewan market and will bring all the popular casino games Saskatchewan residents have come to love to an online platform as well as single-event sports betting. 

BCLC’s mandate is to conduct and manage commercial gambling on behalf of the Province of B.C., which already provides the website to Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries. The release states that PlayNow.com is the only regulated gambling website offered both in B.C. and Manitoba and offers a safe and secure playing experience for its over 400 entertaining casinos, Live Casinos, poker and sports-betting products.

The FSIN and the Provincial Government came to an agreement in September of 2021, which enabled SIGA to bring online gaming to Saskatchewan. The agreement is the first of its kind in Canada, states the release, and strengthens the relationship between the FSIN and Saskatchewan’s gaming sector. 

“SIGA, is very excited to bring the PlayNow online casino and sports betting experience to Saskatchewan - the PlayNow platform is very competitive against any other online offering. This online offering will integrate into our existing casino operations and will further enhance the entertainment options for SIGA’s and SaskGaming’s customers,” said SIGA President & CEO Zane Hansen.

SIGA will officially operate the new Online Gaming Portal as per the operating agreement with SaskGaming. The portal is set to launch in 2022 for Saskatchewan residents. 

“We are excited to be moving forward with the next stage of this project,” said SaskGaming President & CEO Susan Flett. “Online Gaming will modernize the gaming industry in the province and will complement the casino entertainment options available at land-based SaskGaming and SIGA casinos.”

“BCLC is proud to provide its industry-leading PlayNow.com platform to Saskatchewan players, who can soon enjoy the very best in online-gambling entertainment – from exclusive slot games to a full suite of sports betting and casino products,” said Lynda Cavanaugh, Interim President and CEO, BCLC. “Offering a safe and secure online gambling experience that supports positive play, PlayNow.com is the only gambling website in North America and one of few in the world that offers dedicated player-health specialists – known as GameSense Advisors – via live chat.