Bear Claw Casino & Hotel is one of seven facilities owned by Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) and resides in northern Carlyle in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada.

In my opinion, the Bear Claw Casino is the facility with the most interesting history having originally opened up back in 1993 before being shut down three months later in what became a legal battle between the First Nations and the provincial government regarding gaming in Saskatchewan.

By 1995, The Gaming Framework Agreement was established and SIGA was founded but it wasn’t until a year later that the Bear Claw Casino was re-opened alongside three other venues.

In the present day, SIGA is the leading gaming organisation in Saskatchewan.

Having visited nearly all of SIGA’s casinos, I kind of knew what to expect going in. However, at the time of my visit I’d only visited one other SIGA venue which had an on-site hotel, so I was looking forward to getting the full resort experience once again.

So, I went along and spent the evening at Bear Claw Casino & Hotel to see exactly what kind of gambling experience was on offer.

It’s common for an older casino to have undergone a few renovations and Bear Claw’s most prominent one came in 2010.

2010 saw SIGA take over ownership of the on-site hotel which had previously been managed by White Bear First Nations since its official opening in 1996 and the White Bear Hotel became the first hotel in the SIGA dynasty.

With the new ownership came the chance for a revamp and that’s exactly what happened. All the rooms were modernised and had new amenities added.

It wasn’t just the hotel that received a face lift, though. The on-site restaurant was remodelled too, allowing for family dining in a casual setting. Before the renovation, only guests 19 and over could eat at the restaurant, so as you can imagine this really helped promote the venue even further.

Location

The Bear Claw Casino & Hotel is located along the Saskota Flyway, just a few minutes away from the shore of White Bear Lake and around 12 minutes by car from central Carlye – the largest town servicing the far south-eastern corner of Saskatchewan.

The complex is situated in a fairly isolated area and therefore I’d absolutely recommend arriving by car. In fact, it’s pretty much your only option.

There is ample parking available for guests as well as RV parking, but I’ll cover this in more detail later.

Carlyle does have its own airport which is situated around 10 minutes away from the casino and has flights to nearby major airports such as Brandon Municipal Airport, Regina International Airport, and Minot International Airport. 

The Bear Claw Casino isn’t the biggest in the world, clocking in at 30,000 square feet but this does create a bit more of an intimate feel that SIGA casinos are known for.

The casino is open daily from 10am – 2am. I was a little disappointed with how early it closed to be honest, especially considering it’s the only gambling facility in the area and there’s an on-site hotel which makes it much easier for guests to enjoy a late night at the tables with the security of nearby accommodation. 

In relation to décor the casino strikes a balance between contemporary and traditional. A tribal inspired carpet winds its way through the venue while brown leather chairs and First Nation style murals add to the aesthetic.

I visited on an evening during the week so I wasn’t expecting things to be too busy, but I was proved to be wrong. I found there to be quite the buzz about the casino and in the restaurant, so I was pleasantly surprised with this.

Considering the casino hasn’t received any updates since 2010 I thought it was holding up really well. Everything from the machines themselves to the toilets were clean and in working order, which is so often the case at SIGA casinos, so I have no complaints there.

Speaking of machines, lets take a look at the games you can expect to find at this casino.

Slots

If there’s one thing that’s certain about SIGA casinos it’s that the slot selection takes centre stage, and the Bear Claw Casino is no different.

The casino floor features over 130 slots by big names such as IGT and Konami with denominations of $.01, $.05, $0.25 and $1, so it’s great for the casual gambler while the seasoned gamblers may prefer to try out their luck on the selection of progressive jackpot slots.

The two available progressive jackpots available here are Smoke Signals and Rider Nation, both of which are exclusive to SIGA casinos.

The Smoke Signals slot jackpot starts at $1 million but gives players the opportunity to walk away with up to $2 million while the Rider Nation slot begins with a starting point of $50,000 and hits $100,000.

I spent a little while trying out some of the standard slots and a series of small wins encouraged me to take a chance on the progressives which is exactly what I did, though with no success.

Electronic Table Games

A staple of every SIGA casino is The Circuit – a section of the casino floor which houses all of the electronic table games.

There are no live table games here so this is the closest thing you’ll find to classic games such as baccarat, blackjack, roulette and three-card poker, all of which can be found here. Plus, the games are hosted by a live dealer between 4pm and 12am which makes for a much more immersive experience.

I did opt for a few hands of Blackjack before moving on to Roulette but I didn’t stay in the area too long.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted anywhere within the casino (or the on-site hotel for that matter) and guests wishing to smoke will need to do so outside in the designated smoking areas.

As I touched upon briefly at the start, the Bear Claw Hotel underwent a major renovation back in 2010 after SIGA took it over which saw the rooms and restaurant completely revamped at a cost of $4 million.

Just like the casino, the hotel now strikes a perfect balance between contemporary and traditional, with nods to its First Nation roots.

Bear Claw Hotel Rooms

The Bear Claw Hotel compromises of 35 rooms with guests being able to choose from queen rooms, king rooms, and premium suites.

The standard rooms come in at around the 300 square foot mark while the suites offer a little more room to spread out at 350 square feet.

It’s not something I do all the time but I thought the prices were really fair here, with a suite for the night coming in at $130, so I did opt for a suite.

I found my suite to be beautifully decorated and certainly big enough to spread out in. 

My room let in plenty of natural light and contained everything I needed for a comfortable stay, including a flat screen tv, sofa, ironing facilities, refrigerator, wardrobe, microwave, and dining area.

One of the major benefits of a suite came in the form of a humongous corner jacuzzi tub which I made full use of on the night of my stay. Again, the bathroom was huge and contained complimentary toiletries and a his and hers sink.

All in all, I really enjoyed my stay at the Bear Claw Hotel. I had a great sleep after spending the evening at the casino and I’d totally recommend booking a room if you plan on visiting the complex.

RV Parking

As with all SIGA casinos, guests travelling in RVs are welcome to park at the Bear Claw Casino & Hotel however parking spots are available on a first come, first serve basis and the resort does not accept reservations, so bear this in mind.

There are no limits to the duration of your stay but guests must be present at campsite every evening.

Also, note that only six spaces have access to power (110V available) so if this is a necessity for you, I’d recommend calling up beforehand to check if any of the spaces with power are available.

Food and Drink

The main event here is Growlers Restaurant which is situated between the casino and the hotel and is open daily from 10am – 9pm.

There’s seating for over 60 people and the First Nation aesthetic has been carried through, with brown leather furniture and landscape photographs hanging on the walls.

The menu is pretty standard for a casino and guests can choose from dishes such as tacos, ribs, salads, burgers, and steak. 

I arrived quite late at the restaurant and I wasn’t sure whether I’d be served. I needn’t have worried as I was quickly shown to a table and my order was taken. 

I opted for the New York steak and I was really impressed with the quality of it. It was delicious and though it was fairly priced at $29. I’ve paid more for worse steaks, anyway.

There’s also a really great cocktail menu here too and I did take advantage of this considering I was staying at the hotel. I can happily recommend the white sangria and the old fashioned, by the way.

If cocktails aren’t your thing, SIGA have a range of exclusive own-brew lagers to try out too.

If you’re looking for something more in the way of fast-food, Kookum’s Kitchen is a staple of SIGA casinos which offers fried chicken and sides like potato wedges and coleslaw. 

Failing that, the Deli & Bar is located on the casino floor and offers light bites such as pizza slices, sandwiches, and hot dogs. Plus, this is open until 1:30am so it’s great for the night owls out on the casino floor who get a bit peckish. 

Entertainment

There’s not much in the way of entertainment here which I thought was a real shame and would have helped promote more of a resort feeling had there been some regular shows on offer.

There have been events that have taken place in the past, such as live music, but nothing has taken place in recent years.

Having said this, lets not forget that this casino is located across the road from White Bear Lake which is a hub of activity in the summer months, offering things like wakeboarding and waterskiing. 

Golf

White Bear Lake Golf Course is located just a short distance away from the casino and is one of Saskatchewan's best 18-hole championship layouts.

There is a package deal available in conjunction with the Bear Claw Hotel which means customers can receive discounts on rounds of 18 holes at the White Bear Lake Golf Course as well as free play for the casino and coupons for Growlers Restaurant. 

So, if you’re in to golf and are looking to make a proper getaway out of a visit to the Bear Claw Casino & Hotel, I’d absolutely recommend this option. The golf package can be booked by contacting the hotel directly.

Accessibility

The casino and hotel are accessible to wheelchair users.

Pool

Unfortunately, the Bear Claw Hotel doesn’t have a pool so it does lose points here. But it’s a relatively small hotel so it didn’t come as a surprise.

Spa

Sadly, there is no spa at Bear Claw resort either. So, if you're hoping to combine some pampering with your gambling, this place isn't the best choice for you. 

It's easy to dismiss the absence of a pool or spa from a relatively small casino resort. However, if land based venues truly want to distinguish themselves from the best online casinos, they really should be offering a bit more than the basics. 

SIGA casinos tend to provide great promotions and the like and the Bear Claw Casino & Hotel lived up to this expectation. 

Promotions

Alongside a range of ongoing promotions, regular promotions are introduced regular too.

Some of the available promotions that were available during my visit can be seen below, just remember that these are subject to change:

• Let it Grow – Chance to win a cash prize, which grows if not claimed, every Tuesday.
• New Member – Sign up to the Player’s Club rewards club and receive $10 in slot play.
• Ready, Set, Spin – Members 55 and over can spin to win prizes every Monday.

Player’s Club Rewards

You’ll find the Player’s Club rewards program in place at all seven SIGA casinos. It’s completely free to join and provides customers with exclusive offers, discounts and the chance to earn points every time they play at a SIGA Casino.

All you need to do to register is visit any SIGA Casino Players Club desk with a form of government-issued photo ID. Once registered, you’ll receive a Players Club card which can then be inserted into slot machines and electronic gaming machines to begin earning points.

The system is easy to get to grips with and you can see exactly how it works below:

• Slots – Earn 1 Players Club point for every $1 wagered.
• Electronic Gaming Machines – Players Club point for every $5 wagered.

For every 1,000 points you collect, you earn $5 cash back which is redeemable at any of the slot machines.

It’s not just the points system which makes this scheme worth signing up to though, for members can also benefit from 10% off dining at the restaurants, access to the Reward Centres to enter member-only draws and promotions, discounts for on-site entertainment events, and free play birthday vouchers.

In my opinion, the Players Club Rewards program is definitely worth signing up for, even if you’re only planning on visiting the once.

I enjoyed my visit to the Bear Claw Casino & Hotel, which has been the case for every SIGA casino I’ve visited.

Only a couple of SIGA casinos have on-site accommodation though and this was something that came in exceptionally handy at Bear Claw in particular on account of its isolated location. 

As a live table enthusiast, I most definitely missed their presence here but at least the electronic table games provide a substitute. Plus, the fact the games are regularly hosted by a live dealer helps with the atmosphere.

I particularly enjoyed my visit to the main on-site restaurant, Growlers. The service was outstanding (service with a smile is a given at SIGA casinos) and the food and cocktails were delicious. 

All in all, I think the Bear Claw Casino & Hotel provides a good all round gambling experience and I’d happily return if I found myself in the Caryle region of Saskatchewan in the future.