The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) has approved Jackpot Digital, a manufacturer of electronic multiplayer dealer-less poker tables, as a registered supplier of gaming supplies and services to regulated casinos in the province.

Vancouver-based Jackpot Digital previously announced in February a licensing agreement with the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) to install Jackpot Blitz dealerless poker machines at the authority’s seven casinos. The Blitz machines will first be installed at Saskatoon’s Dakota Dunes and Lloydminster’s Gold Horse Casino. It will subsequently expand that reach to other locations.

Jackpot Digital CEO Jake Kalpakian said the deal is the first major jurisdictional, non-tribal license received by Jackpot during the company’s continuing expansion into the land-based casino market.

“We have many more license applications underway in the U.S. and other Canadian provinces, which will dramatically impact our ability to accelerate the rollout of Jackpot Blitz across North America,” added Kalpakian.

Jackpot has announced land-based installations or orders in markets including California, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Oregon, the US Virgin Islands, Washington and several international jurisdictions.

Saskatchewan adds more VLTs as SIGA reports record profits

Jackpot Digital’s offerings will face significant competition for Saskatchewan casino patrons’ attention.

Through multiple deals earlier this year, the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) increased the number of video lottery terminals (VLTs) in Saskatchewan.

In April, the WCLC awarded Inspired Entertainment an additional 720 Valor VLTs to take the number of such terminals in Saskatchewan to over 1,500.

Then, through a renewed agreement with IGT in May, the WCLC ordered 720 of the company’s CrystalDual 27 VLTs.

Meanwhile, in July, SIGA reported record-breaking profits for the second year in a row, with gross revenue hitting $346.6 million for the 2023-24 fiscal year ended March 31, 2024.

Non-profit corporation SIGA operates seven casinos in the province as well as the only legally operated iGaming and sports-betting site in Saskatchewan, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation-owned PlayNow.com. The site yielded $19.1 million of the 2023-24 gaming revenue.

SIGA President and CEO Zane Hansen noted that the results reflect the fact that SIGA has, “successfully built back from the pandemic, achieving record-breaking revenues over the past 24 months, all the while making major strides in enhancing our casino properties and offerings and growing our online gaming platform PlayNow.com in Saskatchewan.”