Press Release
Zane Hansen, President and CEO of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, was named the 2024 Industry Leader of the Year by the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce at the SABEX Awards on Thursday, October 17, 2024.
The Industry Leader of the Year Award honours and recognizes “an industry leader who has made significant contributions to their industry and Saskatoon’s economy and has demonstrated exemplary leadership in business and our community,” according to the Chamber.
Zane is from Waterhen Lake First Nation and has served as SIGA’s President and CEO since 2006. Under his leadership, SIGA has grown from four casinos to seven, as Dakota Dunes Casino opened on the Whitecap Dakota First Nation in 2007, Living Sky Casino in Swift Current in 2008 and Gold Horse Casino in Lloydminster in 2018.
SIGA’s senior leadership also managed to successfully navigate the organization through the pandemic, which faced significant operational restrictions during that time period. SIGA underwent significant changes and emerged a strengthened organization leading to record profits over the past two previous fiscal years.
In 2022, SIGA would also become the sole operator of the province’s only legal and regulated online gaming platform, PlayNow Saskatchewan.
In 2022-2023, SIGA distributed a then-record of $126 million to the province. That record would not last as in 2023-2024, SIGA would generate more than $138 million in revenue. As a non-profit organization, SIGA reinvests 100 per cent of its net income into Saskatchewan.
Each year, 50 per cent of SIGA’s net revenue is distributed to the First Nations Trust, which distributes to the 74 First Nations; 25 per cent is distributed to the Community Development Corporations, which reinvest the money back into their respective communities, and 25 per cent to the province’s General Revenue Fund.
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