Saskatchewan, a Canadian province, unveils its inaugural online gaming platform
In a significant move, PlayNow.com was launched in Saskatchewan, Canada on November 3, 2022. This marks the province's foray into the world of online gambling, making it the only platform for legal online gaming in the province.
The partnership between the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) for PlayNow.com is a first of its kind in Canada, with a First Nations operator for online gaming and revenue sharing between First Nations and the Province.
Unlike Alberta and Ontario, Saskatchewan currently maintains a government monopoly on online gambling. The provincial lottery corporation oversees all online betting through the PlayNow platform, which is shared with Manitoba. Saskatchewan has not announced major reforms to open its market to private operators, thus remaining a non-competitive, single-provider market where online gambling is legal only through government-run sites.
In contrast, Alberta is transitioning from a government monopoly to a regulated competitive online gambling market. The passage of Bill 48 (iGaming Alberta Act) in May 2025 ends the exclusive control of the PlayAlberta.ca platform and introduces a licensing framework for private operators, overseen by the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AIC). The market is expected to officially launch with licensed operators competing by Q2 2026.
Key contrasts between Alberta and Saskatchewan online gambling regulation:
| Aspect | Alberta | Saskatchewan | |-------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------| | Regulatory model | Transitioning to licensed private operators; competitive market planned | Government monopoly via PlayNow platform | | Current primary platform | PlayAlberta.ca (government-run) until market opens for competition | PlayNow (shared provincial platform) | | Legal gambling age | 18 years | Typically 18 or 19 (varies, usually 18) | | Oversight bodies | AGLC currently, transitioning to Alberta iGaming Corporation (AIC) | Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) | | Market opening timeline | Licensing and competition expected Q2 2026 | No announced plans for market liberalization | | Private operator licensing | Bill 48 enables this, legislation passed May 2025 | Not available |
Additional context
Alberta aims to improve player protection, trusted payments, and responsible gambling with the new framework, applying robust AML/KYC standards aligned with global best practices. Saskatchewan’s single-operator market means less competition but potentially simpler regulatory oversight, with all online gambling offered through PlayNow without private competitors.
Alberta’s move is motivated by economic benefits, drawing on Ontario’s example of over $3 billion in gross gaming revenue after opening markets to private operators. The launch of PlayNow.com in Saskatchewan is considered a positive step by Bobby Cameron, chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), as it aims to eliminate illegal, unlicensed, unregulated gaming providers in the province.
SIGA president and chief executive Zane Hansen stated that PlayNow.com will provide a safe and secure option for residents to play their favorite casino games and bet on their favorite sports teams online. The launch of PlayNow.com is under the management of SaskGaming.
- In contrast to Alberta's transition towards a competitive online gambling market, Saskatchewan remains a single-provider market, with their PlayNow platform offering both casino-and-gambling, including casino-games, and sports-betting under the management of SaskGaming.
- As Alberta prepares to open its market to private operators by Q2 2026, Saskatchewan has no announced plans for market liberalization, maintaining a government monopoly on online gambling activities, such as casino-games and sports-betting, through the PlayNow platform.
