Saskatchewan First Nations and Métis organizations will receive an additional $12.5 million in gaming payments for the 2024-25 fiscal year thanks to better-than-expected performance from retail and online casino gaming.

The additional revenue contribution brings First Nations and Métis organizations’ total gaming windfall to $120.6 million for the year. The government credited unexpectedly high profits from Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) casinos, SaskGaming casinos and the province’s PlayNow.com online gaming platform.

“These additional contributions to First Nations and Métis organizations will further empower the economic, social, educational and cultural initiatives in communities throughout Saskatchewan,” said Minister Responsible for First Nations, Métis, and Northern Affairs, Eric Schmalz, in a release.

Via SIGA’s profit-sharing model, 50% of net profits from SIGA casino gaming goes to the First Nations Trust, which distributes the money to the 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan. Another 25% goes to Community Development Corporations, which distribute funds for economic development, community infrastructure development, justice initiatives and more. The final 25% goes into the provincial government’s General Revenue Fund.

SIGA saw record profits last year

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

Last year, SIGA made record-breaking profits for the second year in a row, taking $346.6 million in gross revenue and a final distribution of income of $138.8 million for the 2023-24 fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. Those were both new record marks. PlayNow yielded $19.1 million of the 2023-24 gaming revenue.

To date, more than $1.5 billion has been paid out by SIGA to First Nations communities and other beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan (LGS), the crown corporation that owns SaskGaming, recorded gross income of $585.6 million and net income of $191.1 million from June 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024.

Elsewhere in Saskatchewan casino news, LGS was ordered this month by Premier Scott Moe to source VLT and slot machine upgrades from non-U.S. suppliers.

$43 million of such equipment currently procured from the U.S. is due to be upgraded this year. LGS told CGB that the agency is currently investigating supplier options. “At present, we do not expect that this will affect the operations or services that are delivered by LGS’s gaming operators,” said the crown corp.