'Start of something special': Riders use garbage bag day to reflect on 2024
Nov 11, 2024
The locker room was full of optimism for the future of the organization on Sunday.
Saskatchewan residents will be able to make wagers from the comfort of their homes in the near future.
The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) is creating a regulated online betting app with multiple options to choose from.
SIGA announced it’s teaming up with British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) to help design the online gambling app. The app ‘PlayNow.com’ will be available this fall.
Zane Hansen, the president and CEO of SIGA, said there’s a lot to like about the new app, which is currently in the process of being designed.
“It’s just an incredible platform. It’s Canadian-based and it really stood out to us that way. It’s got a wide range of all types of gaming product on it, so the customer has an incredible selection of choice,” Hansen told Gormley on Thursday.
Gamblers will have their choice of sports betting, single-game sports betting, casino slot games, roulette, blackjack, and many more options, Hansen said.
“For our table games customers out there, this is the solution. They play online, and that has quickly become the preferred choice,” Hansen said.
The site will even feature live dealers as an option for table games, according to the SIGA president.
“You will have dealers dealing in a live studio, and you play on an actual table against an actual dealer and communicate back and forth,” he said.
“It’s amazing how they deliver that experience. It’s authentic and real for our table game players.”
In terms of sports betting, Hansen says there will be so many choices when it comes to putting money on a game, similar to what would be seen “at the big casinos” in Las Vegas.
“You get everything from betting on a single game to different events and activities inside a game,” Hansen said. “We’re in the middle of hockey playoffs, so it could be, ‘Will there be a goal scored in the first five minutes or 10 minutes?’ (There are) all kinds of different propositions.”
Aside from sports betting, political betting will be another focus on the app.
“I think the biggest night in the year they have is the U.S. election, so there’s a lot of neat things you can do and offer to the customers,” Hansen said.
Hansen believes the app will have what it takes to attract customers who are currently using unlicensed platforms.
“We’re going to be competitive. It’s going to be an experience and a high-functioning platform that gives the customer all the selections they could desire,” Hansen said.
“You will have a platform that protects player privacy. There’s data security. All of the financial payment processing is highly protected and meets standards.”
The online app isn’t expected to take away from the attendance in SIGA casinos in Saskatchewan, according to Hansen.
“The online revenues in other provinces are complementary, and they don’t cannibalize existing play,” he said.