Canada's First Nations Investigate Online Gambling Options
The Saskatchewan First Nations have confirmed that they are seeking ways to develop an online gambling solution for the tribe.
The First Nations have approached GEOBet Gambling Network to explore ways to create a joint venture that will offer leverage to the current gambling options available through the Saskatchewan First Nation Gaming Network which operates in the Canadian province.
GEOBet has opted to work with the First Nations and presented several options to the group. Most recently, a presentation over a potential joint venture was made at the Special Indian Gaming Assembly held in Prince Albert.
The man who continually pushes for First Nation rights in the Canadian casino and gambling world is the former Chief of the White Bear First Nation, Bernie Shepherd.
This week, Shepherd said: "We are exploring online opportunities in order to create revenue for our communities and provide business and employment opportunities for our members."
"We are doing this by exercising our inherent and constitutional rights," he insisted.
Saskatchewan Online Gambling Solution
Saskatchewan casinos are a lucrative form of income for First Nations in the province, with establishments welcoming over 4 million visitors through their doors each year.
However, the First Nations recognize that in order to maintain an advantage, they will need to move forward into the world of i-gaming, thus the idea of a First Nations online gambling platform was presented.
"First Nation casinos cannot afford to lose their many land based casino customers to offshore online casino operators," noted the Chief Executive Officer of GEOBet, Gerry Gionet, "so we've developed a turnkey i-gaming solution that will enable Saskatchewan First Nations to get up and running online as quickly and smoothly as possible."
First Nations Welcome US iGaming Bills
Bernie Shepherd also commented on a recent bill drafted by the Senate Committee for Indian Affairs in the United States regarding online gambling for Indian tribes.
"The draft i-gaming bill is a positive and unified step on behalf of our southern relatives who are on the path of self governance and self sustainability," he said. "The success of the regional tribal casinos and their professional operations has led to this commonsense approach and is the right approach to extending First National gaming businesses into the online world with the same rights and freedoms that other industries enjoy."
If the Saskatchewan First Nations approve the proposals set out by GEOBet, it will extend the reach of their gaming network to other parts of Canada.
