The Province of Saskatchewan has unveiled its budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year of 2023-24, which includes a continued investment of CA$92.4 million towards gaming payments for First Nation and Métis communities throughout the region. It’s worth noting that a significant portion of the gaming revenue comes from the province’s recently regulated iGaming platform.
Don McMorris, the Minister Responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs, has praised the budget as a record-breaking investment that will make a significant impact on Indigenous communities in the region. He stated that the government will continue to support and work with Nation and Métis partners.
The Ministry of Government Relations is responsible for distributing casino gaming profits to First Nations Trust, the Community Development Corporations, and the Clarence Campeau Development Fund, in accordance with the 2002 Gaming Framework Agreement and the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation Act.
The new budget has made approximately CA$249.1 million in targeted funding available for First Nation and Métis organizations, which is a significant increase of 6.8% from the previous year’s budget.
In January, Saskatchewan released its first numbers on its newly regulated market, reporting that the market gathered over CA$31.8 million in online wagering handle in the first two months, resulting in roughly CA$1.6 million in net proceeds.