The launch of online poker in Saskatchewan will be delayed yet again, as per a statement from the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA). Online poker players in the Canadian province may have to wait until 2024 to compete at the virtual felts.
Online Poker Launch Delayed Yet Again
This marks the second time that the launch of online poker has been postponed in Saskatchewan. The Canadian province opened its online gaming market in November 2022, offering online casino gaming and sports betting. Authorities previously said online poker would launch next, most probably in December of the same year, but it did not happen.
In January, SIGA indicated online poker could go live sometime in 2023, but now it has become clear that the launch won’t happen until at least December this year, with SIGA’s Director of Communications and Media Relations Alanna Adamko revealing that the rollout is still being worked on.
Reason for Delay Remains Unknown
Online casino gaming and sports betting are currently available in Saskatchewan via the PlayNow platform developed by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC). The main cause of the delay remains unclear, with Adamko refusing to give further details.
With online poker still not active in Saskatchewan, the Canadian province will not be able to join the Canadian Poker Network (CPN), a shared liquidity online poker network which currently has three members: British Columbia, Manitoba, and Quebec.