Saskatchewan government opts out of egaming
Move follows this week's announcement of First Nation group's plans to launch online gaming site with government permission.
The Canadian province of Saskatchewan has announced it will not pursue plans to launch an online gaming site, claiming there was not a “compelling business case” to do so.
Government officials had been analysing the merits of following the likes of British Columbia and Québec in launching a state-run online gambling site, however Donna Harpauer, the minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, announced yesterday that it would end such discussions.
“We did review it and there wasn’t a compelling business case to get involved and so we just didn’t,” she told The Canadian Press.
“The officials had looked into what was the potential of profit in egaming and what’s the risk of getting involved with egaming. It was quite a presentation and it just doesn’t have a huge business case at this point in time.”
The announcement follows this week’s news that one of Saskatchewan’s First Nations is to launch its own online gaming site, despite not having permission from the province to do so.
Bernie Shepherd, CEO of the Northern Bear Casino yesterday revealed plans to launch the online casino as part of the GEOBet network, with the deal initially being announced in September.
At the time, the network revealed that an “unnamed Saskatchewan First Nation group” was planning to launch an online gambling product and join the network on 6 November. GEObet Gambling Network offers a turnkey egaming system aimed at helping tribal and independent casino operators with minimal egaming experience enter the online casino and poker markets.
“Like any business, I’m doing it to make money. I hope we can be successful globally,” said Shepherd, who welcomed the legal challenge which launching without provincial government approval will no doubt bring.
“I’m establishing our jurisdiction. We have inherent rights – treaty rights and constitutional rights. In our minds, this is legal.”
Harpauer claimed the move by the White Bear First Nation was “probably not” legal. “We’ll take a look at that and see what our options are,” she said.