Saskatchewan Warns Players over Fake Casino Ads Online
REGINA, Saskatchewan – Saskatchewan officials have warned online gamblers to avoid fake casino advertisements appearing on social media.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan issued the warning as the Canadian Football League regular season begins, a period that can bring more attention to sports betting and online gambling.
The agency reminded residents that PlayNow.com is the only legal online gambling platform in Saskatchewan. The province’s land-based casinos do not operate online casino or sports betting sites.
Fake Ads Impersonate Land-Based Casinos
LGS said fraudulent ads often copy the names, logos and exterior images of real Saskatchewan casinos. The ads may appear to promote an online version of Casino Regina or another land-based venue, but officials said those platforms are not authorised, according to the government warning.
If you see a social media ad for an online version of Casino Regina or any other land-based casino in the province, don’t click on it. None of Saskatchewan’s land-based casinos have an online version where you can bet on sports or wager on a casino-style game, and neither does the province’s VLT program.
More Regulation
More Than 140 Fraudulent Ads Removed
LGS said it has contracted a brand impersonation takedown service to identify and remove fake casino advertisements targeting Saskatchewan residents. According to Tunison, the service has identified and helped remove more than 140 fraudulent ads in its first six months of use.
The ads are designed to mislead players into sharing credit card numbers, banking details and other personal information. LGS said anyone who sees this type of ad should report it directly to the platform where it appeared, including Facebook, X or Instagram.
Suspected fraud and cybercrime can also be reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center.
Casino Impersonation Remains a Wider Issue
Fake casino advertising has become a recurring problem across Canada and North America, with fake online casino adverts using the names and imagery of legitimate venues to promote unauthorized gambling sites.
Similar warnings have previously been issued by gaming bodies and lottery operators in other Canadian provinces, including Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba.
The issue has grown as social media advertising allows fraudulent operators to reach players quickly and repeatedly. For regulators and lottery corporations, the challenge is not only removing individual ads but also reducing confusion between licensed gambling platforms and illegal casino impersonation sites.
Saskatchewan officials said residents who want to gamble online should use only the province’s regulated platform and avoid clicking gambling ads that claim to represent local land-based casinos.
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