The Saskatchewan-based Northern Bear Casino went live yesterday claiming Indian treaty rights, while the Canadian province says it has “no intention” of legalising online gambling.
The White Bear First Nation has become the first tribal nation to offer real-money online gambling, with casino games, poker and sports betting available on the GEObet Gambling Network.
Bernard Shepherd, CEO of NorthernBearCasino.com, said: “After almost 20 years of successful First Nations owned and operated casinos in Saskatchewan, I decided to become an owner/operator because I believe First Nations need to ‘occupy the field’ of online gambling.”
“I’ll be operating under the same inherent, treaty, constitutional and sovereign rights as when I opened the first Indian casino in Canada,” added Shepherd.
Gerry Gionet, CEO of GEObet Network, said: “In addition to operating one of the finest online casinos in the market, GEObet Network's goal is to unite tribal gaming in the virtual world by offering a turnkey, live online casino to First Nations and tribes in North America.”
Online gaming, however, remains illegal in the province of Saskatchewan and Donna Harpuer, minister of liquor and gaming, said the province has no intention of legalising the practice.
