But SIGA has provided limited information about the motivations behind the initiative or the scope of the concerns it aims to address.

“SIGA is seeking industry solutions in the areas of detection systems and may look to implement possible solutions(s) if they can enhance the overall gaming experience,” said Alanna Adamko, SIGA’s director of communications, in an email to SaskToday.

When asked about potential weapons-related incidents at SIGA casinos, Saskatchewan RCMP declined to comment, citing privacy obligations.

“We do not provide comment on how many calls for service have been received at a particular address, nor do we generally comment on crime trends at a particular address,” said Saskatchewan RCMP media relations. “This is to be mindful of our privacy obligations.”

According to SIGA’s website, they operate seven casinos across Saskatchewan, located in Swift Current, Yorkton, Lloydminster, North Battleford, Prince Albert, north of Carlyle, and south of Saskatoon.

sparks@sasktoday.ca

That forecast is not stopping the BEACH BOYS from hitting Regina this Friday at the Brandt Centre.  Good Vibrations will be wash over all the Surfer Girls and those that drive a Little Deuce Coupe might just want to leave the hot wheels in the garage.  Tickets were selling as quick as people flood to the surf, so check on line to see if tickets are available.

The country vibe time once again at the Brandt Centre on Sunday night at 7pm.  Riley Green and the Damn Country Music Tour roll in with Ella Langley, Jake Worthington & Erik Dylan.  Big hit makers and pretty eye appealing this should be a great night out.  Tickets are still available, some single tickets but what a great way to meet new friends.

Regina welcomes Scotty McCreery to Casino Regina Friday night.  Recently, Scotty slipped on stage! How embarrassing is that?  He bounced right up and will be good to go this weekend.

Conexus Arts Centre will be filled with nostalgia Saturday night when Walk Right Back: The Everly Brothers Story unfolds on the main stage.  Tickets are available at the Box Office or online at Walk Right Back : The Everly Brothers Story | Conexus Arts Centre | Conexus Arts Centre

The Saskatchewan Science Centre / Kramer Imax Theatre has a couple of things you should know about.  First, Disney’s Snow White is playing at the IMAX.  This live action musical reimagining of the 1937 classic will be a treat for the whole family.  There are a variety of show times.  Live theatre is also part of the venue.  Curtain Razors’ Johanna Bundon made an appearance with us on Tuesday morning inviting everyone to “Tommy & Pere”.  There are various times and there is also a pay scale for those that would like to attend but live theatre is not in their budget.

Curtain Razors presents “Tommy + Pere” (Audio) | 620 CKRM – The Voice of Saskatchewan | Harvard Media

We cannot forget about the sporting side of things with the BKT Tires Men’s World Curling Championship underway this weekend in Moose Jaw.  The Original 16 Patch will have not only the International Curlers on the main stage answering questions, but great entertainment like JJ Voss and Men Without Shame.  Daily Ticket Packages are available as well as single tickets.  We are pulling for who else but TEAM CANADA!  Congratulations to all of our single draw ticket winners.

Remember to get out and do something that works your mind, your spirit and offers you a learning moment.  Most of all, have some fun!

March 27 – 30 Weekend

What to do, what to do with all those carved pumpkins. Is this a question you ask yourself. The pumpkin patch didn’t have a hard frost, so the pumpkins might not be rotting as quick. Does that make sense? Here’s what makes sense. Taking your jack o’ lantern to Wascana Park, south side of the Queen Elizabeth II Gardens, today until 6pm. The pumpkins join together to create “Pumpkin Way” from 6 to 8pm, a walk through of the spooky creations. Enjoy complimentary hot chocolate, autumn themed crafts or visit some of the Fenek Farm critters. Pumpkins will be used as feed and compost once removed from the park (Friday night).

The World Series wrapped up a bit earlythan expected so, you have other choices in the sport world. The Regina Pats are on the ice tonight at the Brandt Centre hosting the Medicine Hat Tigers. Saturday night they will be in Swift Current. If you cannot make the game, just check out 620 CKRM for directions on listening to the game both nights. RM 2, our streaming feed, will have U of R Rams football on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Pats game. And of course we hope you join in all the excitement of the CFL playoffs. Western Semi Final action, right here at Mosaic Stadium when the Riders host the B.C. Lions. #GORIDERS P.S. Mother Nature is a Rider Fan!

For those that love music, check out Waylon Jennings Tribute at Casino Regina tonight (Friday). The Story of Waylon Jennings « Casinos Regina & Moose Jaw

Saturday, November 2nd, Darke Hall will be alive with great memories from Brenda Lee Cotrell as she sings songs from the legendary women of country music. Chris Henderson is also part of this show. Tickets are available at the door for both shows, or call the respective box offices or go on line for details. Darke Hall Society Inc. | Description – Remember the Legends.

Not unlike meditation to relax you, Wayne Lee gives us some details about hypnosis and how his stage show helps free people’s minds. Wayne Lee will be performing this week at Casino Regina Show Lounge. Tickets are available for the June 7th performance. Do Not Miss this opportunity to see a master at work.

In addition to singing, she included several stories from throughout her career, including how she and Pam Tillis became friends and decided to go on tour together and how one fan thought she was actually dead! Thankfully Lorrie Morgan is alive and well with a voice that has not changed one bit since the 1990’s.

Morgan’s music career started at very young age thanks to her father, George Morgan, a country music star in his own right. She was a mere 13 years old when she joined her father on the Grand Ole Opry stage to sing “Paper Roses,” which would kick off life in music for her. In fact, she was a member of the Grand Ole Opry before she even released her first solo record – joining in June of 1984. She released her debut album “Leave the Light on” in 1989 and it yielded the number one song “Five Minutes” for Morgan. It also contained three other top 10 hits, “Dear Me,” “Out of Your Shoes,” and “He Talks to me.” Morgan would gather several more top 10 hits over her career and hit the top of chart a total of three times. She also holds the prestigious honour of being the first female in country music to have her career start with three consecutive platinum albums, plus she’s got a new project on the way later this year, titled “Dead Girl Walking.”

Morgan is now headed back to the United States for a series of shows this weekend starting in Akron, Ohio on Friday before travelling to Hopewell, VA for two shows.

“This is something we started back in January of 2020 as part of a multi-year facility modernization plan that supports our commitment to offering an outstanding guest experience. We’ll be reopening to guests and entertainment at the end of March of this year,” says Shanna Schulhauser with Sask Gaming.

The casino is upgrading its show lounge as well as areas surrounding it including the lobby area and box office.

“The show lounge is one of the newer parts of Casino Regina which is why we won’t be undertaking huge sweeping changes to the area itself. The changes are mostly aesthetic upgrades to bring the show lounge in line with the rest of the casino renovations that we’re doing,” says Schulhauser.

The renovations include a new coat of paint, new carpeting, upgrades to the lounge bar, as well as some new lighting and seating arrangements.

Schulhauser says the casino is embracing a Vegas-style look for its 27th birthday this year.

The renovations will wrap up in March in time for the lounge’s opening show of The Irish Rovers.

You can buy tickets for the show and get more information here. 

“This is something we started back in January of 2020 as part of a multi-year facility modernization plan that supports our commitment to offering an outstanding guest experience. We’ll be reopening to guests and entertainment at the end of March of this year,” says Shanna Schulhauser with Sask Gaming.

The casino is upgrading its show lounge as well as areas surrounding it including the lobby area and box office.

“The show lounge is one of the newer parts of Casino Regina which is why we won’t be undertaking huge sweeping changes to the area itself. The changes are mostly aesthetic upgrades to bring the show lounge in line with the rest of the casino renovations that we’re doing,” says Schulhauser.

The renovations include a new coat of paint, new carpeting, upgrades to the lounge bar, as well as some new lighting and seating arrangements.

Schulhauser says the casino is embracing a Vegas-style look for its 27th birthday this year.

The renovations will wrap up in March in time for the lounge’s opening show of The Irish Rovers.

You can buy tickets for the show and get more information here. 

SaskGaming says in a normal year of operations, it would have paid a dividend to the Crown Investments Corporation. However the payment was cancelled this past fiscal year due to net losses.

Casinos Regina and Moose Jaw were temporarily closed for about seven months because of the pandemic which resulted in temporary lay offs of approximately 570 permanent employees.

“Not unlike other industries in our province, SaskGaming was significantly impacted by the pandemic,” stated Minister Responsible for SaskGaming Don Morgan in a release on Monday. “While the corporation managed to turn a modest revenue of $30.9 million when the casinos were operating with fewer capacity restrictions, it was not enough to offset expenses and resulted in no payments made to the General Revenue Fund.”

Revenue in 2019-2020 was at $114.1 million.

“This reporting year was unlike anything SaskGaming has experienced in 25 years of operation,” SaskGaming President and CEO Susan Flett said. “The corporation made many difficult but necessary business decisions as a result of COVID-19, including continuing with renovations at Casino Regina in an effort to support the local construction industry and sub-trades.”

Expenses were reported at $44.3 million at year’s end compared to $73.9 million in 2019-2020.

The Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation says 327 people (238 unionized and 89 non-union) at the two establishments are being laid off as of Monday. These employees comprise gaming floor and back-of-house staff and management at Casinos Regina and Moose Jaw, as well as SaskGaming corporate staff.  These temporary layoffs
are in addition to the 251 permanent employees who have remained on temporary layoff since April 3.

In a release, Gaming Corporation spokesperson Shanna Schulhauser says temporary layoffs are being made under the public emergency provisions in the Saskatchewan Employment Act.  She adds SaskGaming is being met with even greater challenges than they were at the end of March which has resulted in the corporation needing to make considerable changes,

The layoffs could be extended past the 28 days that the health order is in effect for.

When both re-opened in July, table games were not part of the equation, but as of Thursday, they now are on a limited basis as four blackjack tables, one roulette and one baccarat are open in Regina with one blackjack and one roulette table being opened in Moose Jaw.

Saskgaming spokesperson Shanna Schulhauser says she expects this news will mean more traffic coming into both venues.

“Guest demand has been steady since we re-opened three months ago.” Schulhauser said. “Capacity limits at both have been reached several times so adding this additional service will impact this as well.”

There are restrictions in place with one of those being for patrons being unable to touch cards so poker games aren’t being played at this time

Schulhauser adds one benefit of this move is that some who were laid off when the casinos were closed in March can now return to their jobs.  Over 500 were laid off when the casinos closed in March with nearly half returning when the facilities re-opened in July.