Launches its initial online gaming platform: Saskatchewan, Canadian province
In a groundbreaking move, Saskatchewan has partnered with the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) to launch its first and only legal online gaming site, PlayNow.com. This partnership marks the first of its kind, with a First Nations operator for online gaming and revenue sharing between First Nations and the Province.
PlayNow.com, which operates in a monopoly model in provinces such as British Columbia and Manitoba, will retain this model in Saskatchewan. The platform, launched on November 3, 2022, offers more than 500 online casino games and a comprehensive array of sports betting offerings.
Unlike Alberta and Ontario, Saskatchewan will not be following a multi-provider model. The aim is to create a more manageable situation in Saskatchewan and ensure that regulated online gambling benefits the province directly.
Saskatchewan's regulatory approach remains more conservative compared to its neighbouring provinces. The launch of PlayNow.com is managed by SaskGaming and SIGA, with no plans to open the province up to external gaming providers.
Meanwhile, Alberta is in the late stages of transitioning from a government-monopoly online gambling platform to a fully regulated competitive market open to private operators. The province passed Bill 48 (the iGaming Alberta Act) in 2025, establishing a new regulatory framework and creating the Alberta iGaming Corporation. The regulated market is anticipated to launch in early 2026.
Ontario, on the other hand, has the most advanced and fully regulated online gaming market in Canada. The province allows private operators to operate under licenses issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario, with strict rules including mandatory geolocation, advertising restrictions, and a minimum playing age of 19.
The launch of PlayNow.com in Saskatchewan is expected to provide significant economic benefits to the province as a whole and to First Nation communities in particular. The aim is to eliminate illegal, unlicensed, unregulated gaming providers in the province, ensuring a safer and more controlled gaming environment.
| Province | Current Online Gaming Status | Regulatory Body | Market Type | Legal Gambling Age | Market Launch | Notes | |--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------|------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | Ontario | Fully regulated online market with private operators | AGCO, iGaming Ontario | Open competitive regulated | 19 | April 2022 | Strict licensing, advertising restrictions, large market | | Alberta | Transitioning to regulated private operator market | AGLC, Alberta iGaming Corporation | Planned open market in 2026 | 18 | Expected early 2026 | Bill 48 passed 2025, ending government monopoly PlayAlberta| | Saskatchewan | Conservative, limited online market, mainly government-run | Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority | Government-run or limited | Varies (~18 or 19) | No private operator market | No announced major legislative changes for online gambling |
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The collaboration between Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) for the launch of PlayNow.com includes a variety of offerings, such as online casino games and sports betting. This exclusive partnership in Saskatchewan, unlike Alberta and Ontario, operates under a government-run model, aiming to direct benefits towards the province and First Nation communities.
In an effort to manage online gambling more effectively, Saskatchewan's model differs from other provinces by not opening up the market to external gaming providers, unlike the more advanced and fully regulated online gaming market in Ontario, which allows private operators to cater to an extensive market.
