Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority
 | Parts of this article (those related to Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan) need to be updated. (September 2023) |
 | |
| Company type | Crown Corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Beverages and Gaming regulation |
| Headquarters | Regina, Saskatchewan |
Key people | Susan Ross, President and CEO |
| Products | Alcohol control and sales, gambling/gaming regulation |
| Website | Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority |
The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (or SLGA) is a Treasury Board crown corporation responsible for the distribution, control and regulation of alcoholic beverages, cannabis and most gambling in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Its head office is located in Regina.
SLGA is the main distributor of and sole licensing agent for the sale of beverage alcohol in Saskatchewan. It owns and manages all video lottery terminals located in liquor permitted establishments in approximately 300 communities around the province and owns and manages the slot machines at seven casinos operated by the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA).
SLGA also licenses and regulates most forms of gambling: bingos, raffles, casinos, breakopen tickets, poker events, monte carlo events and horse racing. The agency also regulates Sask Gaming, the crown corporation responsible for Casino Regina and Casino Moose Jaw.
SLGA operated a network of retail liquor stores in communities around Saskatchewan. In November 2015, prior to the 2016 provincial election, the Saskatchewan Party government announced plans to privatize at least 40 of the 75 liquor stores the SLGA ran, but that these plans would not be realized until after the election. In November 2016, it was announced that 39 stores would be privatized and sold to various owners, and that 11 new private stores would be authorized. Their new owners include co-operatives, entrepreneurs, and commercial companies such as Sobeys.[1][2]
On October 26, 2022, it was announced that the SLGA would exit the retail market and privatize all other liquor stores in the province, while maintaining a wholesale role.[3] Furthermore, it was announced that a new crown corporation known as Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan (LGS) would assume the role of managing and/or overseeing lotteries (in association with Sask Sport and the WCLC), casinos (owning Sask Gaming and overseeing the SIGA), VLTs, and internet gambling in the province effective April 1, 2023, with the SLGA taking on a role as an "independent regulator" and continuing to oversee charitable gaming.[4][5]
References
- ^ "Saskatchewan to privatize 40 government-owned liquor stores". CBC News. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- ^ "Locations, owners announced for 50 private liquor stores". CBC News. Retrieved 2018-04-11.
- ^ "Sask. government plans to sell all SLGA liquor stores, exit retail market". CTV News Regina. 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ "Government Announces New Crown Corporation Changes To The Structure Of Lotteries And Gaming". Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
- ^ "New Crown corporation to oversee lotteries, gaming in Sask". 650 CKOM. Retrieved 2022-10-28.