Saskatchewan Casino and Card Room Gaming

Saskatchewan offers slot machines, table games and video lottery terminals (VLTs) at casinos, one racetrack and other venues.

The Western Canada Lottery Corporation runs the province's video lottery terminals. The video lottery terminals program began in 1993 as a result of the hospitality industry's concern that local businesses were suffering because Saskatchewan's residents traveled to nearby provinces to play VLTs. Video lottery terminals are now permitted in hotels and restaurants across Saskatchewan. There are over 600 VLT sites throughout the province. The total number of VLTs permitted is capped at 4,000.

The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) is responsible for the regulation of casino gaming in the province and has oversight of the slot machines and dice games in SIGA casinos.

A smoking ban was instituted in the province's casinos on 1 January 2005, with the exception of aboriginal casinos.

In 2006, provincial Liberals announced their intention to make significant cuts to the number of video lottery terminals in casinos, and possibly other gaming machines as well. They cited a study published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, which says that Saskatchewan and Manitoba have the largest per capita numbers of video lottery terminals and casinos in Canada, along with the highest rates of problem gambling. In March 2007, the government announced it would not raise the cap on the number of VLTs.

Casino City Considers VLTs to be a casino and card room gaming activity.