There is good news for the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority.
Board chairman Felix Thomas updated chiefs on this year’s numbers during yesterday’s session of the FSIN Spring Legislative Assembly on the Whitecap Dakota First Nation.
He says, at the start of the year, they were hoping to equal last year’s record net profit of $81 million.
But it looks like they’ve exceeded that:
“We did a little bit better. We just went through our final audit and this year’s revenues are coming in at $86,457,000 — so there is a lift of $5 million this year and it will be recognized when they do the reconciliation through the trust.”
Thomas says factors behind the surge included good weather, efficient casinos and a maturing of the markets.
He adds they are already considering how to expand their markets moving into the future.
FSIN Chief Perry Bellegarde is pushing for a new gaming deal with the province.
Bellegarde says it isn’t fair that a quarter of their profits go over to the province.
He hopes SUMA and SARM appreciate their position in the matter.
Bellegarde says he’s met with Premier Brad Wall and talked about holding more regular meetings between First Nations and the province.
He says he also told the Premier that gaming must be allowed onto the table.