In late 2022, the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) launched PlayNow.com – the first legal betting site in Saskatchewan history. The market was strong after the first few months, but it was difficult to tell just how popular this new site was. We now know that it was very popular with Saskatchewan players.
SIGA has recently released its full financial report for the 2023-24 fiscal year (April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024). This report included detailed information on how PlayNow.com bettors play and the site’s revenue. Let’s get into the facts and figures below.
Saskatchewan Punters Bet More Than Half a Billion Dollars in 2023/2024
The first eye-catching number from the full financial report is the amount of money players wagered at PlayNow.com in 2023/24. According to SIGA, Saskatchewan players wagered $503 million on online slots, table games, live dealer games, and sports betting using the PlayNow.com platform. This figure does not include bets made with funds earned through casino bonuses.
E-Casino games such as online slots, blackjack, and solo video poker were by far the most popular casino games in Saskatchewan. A massive $378 million of the $503 million total betting amount was wagered on e-casino games. Live dealer games made up the second-biggest chunk of money wagered at $105 million, while $20 million was bet on sports in Saskatchewan.
For context, iGaming Ontario reports of the total $503 million bet in Saskatchewan, online casinos in Ontario handled over $35 billion in wagers. However, there are dozens of legal Ontario online casinos, and Saskatchewan has a much smaller population than Ontario. With those restrictions, $503 million in wagers is an absolutely massive number for the Land of the Living Skies.
SIGA says this $503 million mark sets a “solid baseline for (SIGA) to measure our future growth against.” SIGA Director of iGaming, Michael Bellegarde, says the amount of money wagered at Saskatchewan’s legal betting site “surpassed our expectations.”
Bellegarde added that SIGA looks forward “to continuing to grow the platform and providing world-class gaming entertainment to the citizens of Saskatchewan.”
“As the market matures into its second year, I will strive to capture more market share from illegal operators so that the citizens of Saskatchewan can enjoy online gambling knowing that their personal and financial information is safe and secure,” he continued.
Online gambling revenue surges – $19.1million generated
In addition to strong overall betting numbers, SIGA also reported huge Saskatchewan online gaming revenues through PlayNow. In total, the legal betting site brought in $19.1 million during 2023/24. This figure does not reflect operating costs or other liabilities.
In line with the overall betting trends, e-casino games comprised the biggest portion of overall revenue, with online slots and other popular casino games bringing in $16 million in revenue alone. Live dealer games brought in $2 million, while sports betting generated just $1.1 million in revenue.
E-Casino games were also the only games whose quarterly revenue consistently increased throughout the year. Live dealer games and sports betting both dipped occasionally, while e-casino games increased quarter-on-quarter. This could be a sign of the live dealer and sports betting markets maturing in Saskatchewan, or it could just be an early blip. It’s hard to say until we see next year’s numbers.
What we can say is that the Saskatchewan online gaming market is looking really strong right now. As SIGA Director of iGaming, Michael Bellegarde, explained above, it has exceeded expectations. That’s also true for overall revenues.
According to SIGA, the $19.1-million revenue figure exceeded the agency’s projections. They don’t explain by how much the Saskatchewan online gaming market overshot the mark, but it’s a good sign either way.
Rural gamers diversify Saskatchewan’s unique player base
SIGA reports that there are over 30,000 players in Saskatchewan registered with PlayNow. Unlike other provinces, SIGA says, these players come from more rural backgrounds.
“Since its initial launch in November of 2022, PlayNow.com has successfully acquired more than 30,000 clients,” SIGA said in their report, “In contrast to our colleagues in Manitoba and British Columbia, 50% of our customer base comes from rural communities, areas outside of Saskatoon and Regina.”
It’s too early to say whether this distinction is meaningful. However, SIGA says the number of players from more rural parts of the province is proof that SIGA is “the gaming operator of choice for the residents of Saskatchewan.”
Where to Now for Saskatchewan’s Online Gambling Scene?
If you read the full SIGA report, you will find that the organization is really optimistic about the future of legal online gambling in Saskatchewan. We wholeheartedly agree with them.
These revenue numbers reveal a strong appetite for legal Saskatchewan sports betting and online casino games. PlayNow is just one platform, though. The market might not really explode until it opens up to outside competitors, like Ontario did when it established iGaming Ontario.
We’ll have to wait and see just how much PlayNow grows in the coming years. Maybe we’ll be wrong, and Saskatchewan players will be happy to keep playing with just PlayNow.
