Online Gambling in Saskatchewan

Online Gambling in Saskatchewan: Laws and Regulations

Gambling laws can be a tricky thing in Canada, especially those related to internet gambling. In Saskatchewan, the legal climate surrounding iGaming is a bit cloudy. The way legal framework was constructed — split across federal and provincial levels — isn’t helping the matter.

The Criminal Code of Canada defines the legality of gambling in Canada. That piece of legislation outlines different types of gambling. In a nutshell, gambling is deemed illegal in Canada. However, each provincial government has the right to authorize specific forms of gambling.

In Saskatchewan, most forms of gambling are legal. We’ll explain this in detail below when we discuss which forms of gambling are considered legal in the province, and which ones are forbidden.

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What Forms of Gambling Are Allowed Under Saskatchewan Laws?

A study conducted by Statistics Canada has revealed that the residents of the sunniest state in Canada spend more money (per household) on gambling than any other province. If you happen to be a citizen of Saskatchewan, here are the legal gaming pastimes currently available:

• Land-based casinos — There are six land-based gambling establishments in Saskatchewan run by the Indian tribes (Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority) and two more operated by the province’s government (Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation). The total revenue generated by the Indian casinos is split between the First Nations Trust, the Community Development Corporations, and the General Revenue Fund.
• Sports Betting — All sports betting activities go through the Sports Select, which is also available in Yukon, Manitoba, Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Western Canada. The Sports Select service is available at licensed retailers. The maximum amount of money a player can spend is $250 per day (at a single retailer). You can make bets on basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, and football.
• Charitable Gaming — These include bingo and raffles. Any non-profit organization can apply for a license with the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.
• Lottery — This form of gambling has been available since 1974. The games are managed via Saskatchewan Lotteries, and the profit is used to fund over 12,000 groups.
• Horse Racing — Horse racing has been a fixture of Saskatchewan for over 40 years. There are three legal tracks currently operating in the province, as well as a few teletheatres that offer punters to wager at off-track betting facilities.

What About Online Gambling?

The online form of iGaming that is permitted in Saskatchewan is the provincial lottery. However, the gambling laws in the province relate only to the operators that are located, licensed, and authorized within the province. That means that they have no jurisdiction over gambling operators located overseas.

Saskatchewan lawmakers can’t create penalties for any gambling business that is located outside the province. That is out of their jurisdiction and left in the hands of the federal government.

In the case of offshore casinos, they’re not breaking any existing Canadian laws. That said, without a constitutional amendment, the Saskatchewan authorities cannot deem it illegal.

Due to the obscurity of Canadian gambling laws (and Saskatchewan, for that matter), online gambling is not considered illegal. First, the provincial lottery service is obviously 100% legal. Other forms of online gambling (poker, online casino, sports, bingo), although not explicitly permitted, are not considered illegal either. Gambling in the province would be deemed illegal only in case the federal authorities amend the constitution.

Long story short, Saskatchewan and Canadian laws don’t forbid online gambling; therefore, it is not considered illegal. As long as the offshore operator has no physical presence in Canada, it doesn’t break any laws by accepting players from this province. Until Canada press charges in the high courts or amends the constitution, this status is unlikely to change.

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Northern Bear Online Casino was established in Saskatchewan in November 2012. This casino wasn’t actually provincially approved, but it was instead owned and operated by an individual — Bernie Shepherd. He claimed that he was merely expressing his rights as a White Bear First Nations to launch an online gaming establishment in Saskatchewan when he had opened Bear Claw — a land-based casino in the province. The site has had its ups and downs, but it’s operating actively today.

Fundamental Gambling Laws in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation Act — regulates the most significant rules for the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation.

The Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act 1997 — This is the most significant law that defines the basic gambling rules in the province. It regulates the process of license issuing, defines gambling itself, and contains requirements for both operators and players of gambling websites, as well as possible violations and charges.

Licensing Agreements — These are signed between the Indian tribes and the Government of Saskatchewan. These agreements define the rights and obligations of the Indian tribes’ regulatory bodies to control the field of gambling in reservations. They also regulate the basic rules of gambling activity in reservations and the process of licensing.

The Criminal Code of Canada — This is the most significant gambling law in Canada. It defines all the limitations that have to be observed by the local authorities. Article 207 is the essential one, as it has the information of all the gambling types allowed in Canada.

What to Look for When Choosing an Online Offshore Casino?

Northern Bear has a decent collection of slots, which may be fine for recreational play, but high rollers will probably get bored of playing the same old games time and time again. So, if you wish to play on an offshore online casino, here are a few tips that could prove useful in your gaming adventures.

• Make sure the site is secure — You can determine this by checking which license the casino holds. The sites that are licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission, and the Curacao Government are the safest options. These licensing institutions impose a whole set of rules on casinos they must abide by in order to make sure that all the gambling activity is legitimate and secure.
• Make sure the promotional line up suits your gambling preferences — This is probably the most significant aspect when it comes to choosing a gambling site. All casinos have fantastic bonuses, but some are more valuable than others. Make sure to read the bonus T&C (especially the wagering requirements info) before you sign up.
• Only choose sites with a wide range of games — The main goal of visiting a casino site is to play games and hopefully make some cash. The more games you have available, the better chance you will have of finding one that pays well.
• Play on sites that support a decent range of payment options — World-known casino brands support payment methods that are popular around the world, but you may not be using any one of them. Therefore, it would not be a bad idea to check what banking methods are available before you go into action.

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