The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) has been settling down after their most recent expansion, so many might wonder what's next. Zane Hansen, CEO of SIGA, was at the Painted Hand Casino for the recent Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, discussing gaming operations in the province.
One thing that Hansen expects to see is steady growth above all in the industry. After the major expansions of the past few years have been completed, he anticipates that the industry will have a more steady growth, moving with the population and overall economy.
"After 15 years, gaming is a mature industry, so you won't see a lot of growth like you have when you have a younger industry and there is a lot of intrinsic growth. We still have a very good market though, and I think Saskatchewan compared to anywhere else in Canada or North America is a great jurisdiction to be doing business in," Hansen says.
Given that he expects growth to be maintained in the two to three per cent range, the priority for SIGA will be to containing the growth of expenses, and he notes that they have kept increases in expenses under one per cent.
Hansen notes that the business is often dependent on things like weather and the economy overall, and that this has been a good winter.
"This year it's been on a good curve for the past six or seven months, and the overall consumer confidence has been reflecting that."
The gaming industry is good for the province overall, Hansen says, and he notes that SIGA spends $30 million annually on Saskatchewan-based suppliers, with approximately $1.2 million spent on businesses in Yorkton.
Hansen notes that one of the primary goals of SIGA is to bring economic development to the First Nations in the province, and he says that they do that both through their profits - half of which go to the province's First Nations, a quarter to their community development organizations, and a final quarter to the Province of Saskatchewan - and through being the first job of many people.
"We often consider ourselves a developmental employer. If people join our company and rise through the ranks, we deem that successful. If they join our company, get a good skill set, get stabilized, and move on to other employment, that's also successful in our eyes," Hansen says.
The next move for SIGA will be building in a resort-minded direction, with hotels being developed to go with the casinos, including a development in Yorkton, Hansen expects. He also expects technology will become a major factor in what the casinos can offer, and what people will demand.
