Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan’s poker scene is smaller than Alberta and Ontario, but it’s growing steadily. With a few strong live poker rooms and increasing online options, players in the province have more choices than ever.

✔️ Dakota Dunes Casino (Saskatoon) – The largest poker venue in the province.

✔️ Casino Regina – A solid poker room offering No-Limit Hold’em cash games.

1.Station Poker Classic: Scheduled for March 18–22, 2025.

2.Diamond Poker Classic: Set for June 10–14, 2025.

3.Harvest Poker Classic: Planned for November 11–15, 2025. Registration for the Station Poker Classic opens on January 28, 2025. 

Dakota Dunes Casino is located approximately 20 minutes south of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Highway 219 at the Whitecap First Nation. 

This casino offers a comprehensive gaming experience including live poker games. The casino's poker room is equipped with four tables which are utilized across cash games and tournaments.

Regular cash games at Dakota Dunes Casino include:

Timing: The poker room operates daily from 5:00 PM to 2:30 AM.

Dakota Dunes Casino hosts various poker tournaments. For example, a No Limit Texas Hold'em tournament is scheduled for March 11, 2025, with seating at 7:00 PM and the game commencing at 7:15 PM. The buy-in for this event is $150.

Beyond poker, Dakota Dunes Casino offers:

The casino spans over 80,000 square feet, with a large gaming floor, a restaurant, and Saskatchewan's only High Limit Room.

Additionally, Dakota Dunes Casino hosts live entertainment events. Visitors can expect performances by Finger Eleven on March 13, 2025, and Kim Mitchell on April 24, 2025.

The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority allows eligible groups and organisations to host Texas Hold'em tournaments. 

A charitable group can host up to 52 such tournaments annually, provided the proceeds are used for charitable or religious purposes. 

Saskatchewan's live poker scene allows for limited exposure when it comes to poker tournaments and poker variants but players can choose to grind in the above poker rooms and even host private home games.

Saskatchewan does not have a provincially regulated online poker site, but players access:

✅ GGPoker

✅ WPT Global

✅ Stake Poker

✔️ Live poker is legal at casinos.

✔️ Online poker is not directly regulated, but offshore sites operate freely.

🎟️ Dakota Dunes Poker Series – The biggest poker event in the province.

✔️ Live poker is growing, with more demand for mid-stakes tournaments.

✔️ Players are moving to offshore online sites, as there is no provincial alternative.

The Saskatchewan government grants a monopoly to PlayNow, a platform created by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC). However, provincial legislation does not stop access to offshore poker platforms. 

As a result, international sites are popular among local players due to its wide range of poker games and bigger player pool.  Those looking for offshore sites should be aware of potential risks. 

In case of any disputes, players can file their complaints with the licensing authorities outside Canada, such as the ones based in Malta, the Isle of Man, or Gibraltar. Saskatchewan does not impose legal penalties for players who opt to use these platforms.  

PlayNow is the only locally licensed online gambling platform for Saskatchewan grinders. Operated by the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) since November 3, 2022, PlayNow reinvests all revenue back into the province, according to SIGA President and CEO Zane Hansen.  

PlayNow offers poker through the Canadian Poker Network, connecting players from Quebec, British Columbia, and Manitoba. However, Saskatchewan players can only grind against players within the province, leading to a smaller number of cash tables and tournaments.  

During peak times, around 500 players are active across the Canadian Poker Network, leading to a good amount of competition for a few cash tables and smaller tournaments. 

Beginners may find PlayNow suitable with the added benefit of local regulatory oversight.  

GGPoker 

GGPoker is a leading name in the online poker space globally. It offers a variety of cash games, tournaments and monthly promotions. 

The platform is owned by NSUS Group, which also owns the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Players can grind in unique game formats across cash games alongside flagship tournaments and online qualifiers for WSOP Main Event.

1. Choose a platform: Beginners may prefer PlayNow. Experienced players might consider international operators for a bigger player field and a variety of tournaments.  

2. Register an account: Visit the platform’s official website, register, and complete the KYC verification process to meet the 19+ age requirement.  

3. Deposit funds: Legal platforms like PlayNow accept deposits through AmEx, MasterCard, and Visa, along with electronic payment systems such as PayPal. Offshore operators often provide more options, including cryptocurrency and popular e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller.  

4. Start grinding: Players can grind in cash games, tournaments, or other promotions offered.

Casino and poker winnings in Saskatchewan are generally not taxed for casual players. However, professional players are subject to income tax as outlined in the Income Tax Act.  

●10.50% on winnings up to $49,720  

●12.50% on amounts up to $142,058  

●14.50% on winnings above $142,058  

Professional players may also report losses in their tax returns to offset their taxable income.  

Saskatchewan has produced three accomplished poker players who have each earned over a million in their respective live career winnings. 

Ryan Smith stands as Saskatchewan's most successful poker player, amassing total career earnings of over $1.4 million. He ranks among the top 100 Canadian players. One of his most notable achievements came at the 2022 WPT World Championship, where he secured 6th place and earned $111,535.

In 2024, Smith added another significant title to his resume by winning the Venetian DeepStack Championship Poker Series tournament in Las Vegas, taking home $53,757. Additionally, at the 2024 WSOP Main Event, Smith finished in 660th place.

Michael Smith is close behind with $1.42 million in live career earnings. Michael has cashed in tournaments across various locations, including Taipei, Prague, Vietnam, Cape Town, Malaga, Melbourne, and Las Vegas.

A key moment occurred when Smith reached the final table of the WSOP 2022 Million Dollar Bounty, where he claimed 5th place and a prize of $206,250.

Tyler Bonkowski has achieved career winnings of over $1.1 million. He holds the distinction of being a WSOP bracelet winner, having claimed victory in the $3,000 Limit Hold’em event on June 8, 2011 for over $220K. 

A month after his bracelet win, Bonkowski made another impressive finish at the 2011 WSOP Main Event by claiming the 60th spot for a payday of over $130K.