First Nations in Saskatchewan Prepare For Online Gaming

Even though the government in Saskatchewan has publicly stated that it would not be entering the online gaming space, the First Nation Tribes in the province is still moving forward.
Currently, in Canada the provinces of British Columbia and Quebec have started their own online gaming sites and Indian Nations chief Perry Bellegarde doesn’t want to lose out from capitalizing on this online industry, with or without the government.
“We need to ensure Saskatchewan’s gaming industry is prepared for this emerging competitor,” Bellegarde said in a news release. “First Nations and the province have history working together in developing a strong gaming industry. We can do the same with online gaming.”
The tribes are not alone in this venture and have the connections, knowledge and the partnerships to get their brand up and running with servers in the Virgin Islands.  The aboriginal-owned GEObet Gambling Network, an online gaming development company based in the Tsuu T’ina Nation in Alberta, is now currently working with several Saskatchewan tribes to begin preparing their online gaming operations.
Gerry Gionet, GEObet’s chief executive officer, explained to the Indian Country Today Media Network that he is interesting in providing the essential online gaming products and services needed to ensure that First Nations get in on the ground floor and take full advantage of this industry.
“First Nation casinos can’t afford to lose their many land-based casino customers to offshore online operators,” Gionet said in a media release from the Tsuu T’ina Nation. “So we’ve developed a turnkey iGaming solution that will enable Saskatchewan First Nations to get up and running online as quickly and smoothly as possible.”
The two established land based casinos in the province are generating millions of dollars and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority currently runs six.