As part of the SIGA casino family, the Gold Eagle Casino is located in North Battleford and is the areas only gambling facility.

Founded in 1995, SIGA operates seven casinos throughout Saskatchewan, with the first four having opened back in 1996.

In fact, the Gold Eagle Casino was SIGA’s first venture, opening on March 1 which was five days before the second casino in the chain, the Northern Lights Casino in Prince Albert.

Two more venues were opened before the end of 1996 and the rest of them have opened up over the years as SIGA has continued to grow.

Having visited almost all of SIGA’s casinos, I was really looking forward to visiting the very first one and seeing how things were holding up.

I went along and spent the night there to see how it compares to its counterparts and to see exactly what type of gambling experience is on offer.

The Gold Eagle Casino’s location along the Yellowhead Highway has made it a popular destination for travellers since it opened some 28 years ago.

The casino has undergone multiple expansions and refurbishments over the years, with the most prominent one coming in 2015.

The refurbishment saw a 5,000 square foot entertainment facility being added to the existing 34,000 square feet building alongside a new closed-off smoking section of the gaming floor, more slot machines, and general interior updates.

The casino offers live table games, plenty of slots, electronic table games, a couple of eateries and lots of great offers to tempt you in.

So, without further ado, lets take a closer look at everything on offer here.

Location

The Gold Eagle Casino is located in North Battleford along the Yellowhead Highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

While North Battleford is the seventh largest city in Saskatchewan, there isn’t really a lot going on and public transport is limited. 

Because of this, arriving by car is the best option. The casino provides ample parking, as does the hotel next door, so you can park and head straight on in.

The casino does also offer transportation around the local area and you can enquire about this at the reception.

Note that the nearest airport to North Battleford is Saskatoon International Airport, which is 130 kilometres away.

The Gold Eagle Casino is open daily, 10am – 2am Monday to Wednesday, 10am – 3am on Thursdays, and 10am – 4am on Friday and Saturday. 

From the outside, the casino looks huge but I wouldn’t say that this translates to the inside, though this isn’t a bad thing.

Speaking of the exterior, another thing I noticed about this particular SIGA casino is that it looked quite industrial compared to other venues in the chain which I wasn’t a fan of. I much prefer a traditional, First Nation kind of style that stays true to the roots of the organisation.

However, considering the casino is the oldest in the SIGA chain, I thought it was holding up pretty well on the inside and I liked the décor, though it was very dark thanks to a dark red carpet and dark walls.

In fact, there isn’t much light at all apart from that provided from the machines themselves. 

Speaking of machines, lets jump into what you can expect to find out on the casino floor.

Live Table Game Selection

There are eight live tables at this casino and you can choose from roulette, blackjack, and Phil Em Up, so fairly standard pickings.

The table games are open 3pm – 2am Monday to Thursday, 3pm – 3am on Friday and Saturday, and 3pm – 1am on Sundays.

As I visited on the weekend all of the tables were pretty busy, but I managed to squeeze in on one of the blackjack tables and I enjoyed the time I spent there.

There was a great atmosphere around the tables and I found the dealer to be professional yet friendly. I didn’t have the best of luck but few smaller wins kept me hanging around for about an hour or so before I moved on.

Slots

For me, the highlight of this casino is the slot selection. 

Considering it’s not the biggest casino in the world with a 15,000 square metre gaming space, I was impressed that there were over 300 slots to choose from.

It’s not just the number of slots available though, as I found machines from a bunch of different providers and styles, ranging from traditional three-reelers to modern video slots and with denominations of $0.1, $0.2, $0.5, $0.25, and $1.

However, the real spotlight is on the progressive jackpot slots 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 can’t resist a go on these progressives when I visit a SIGA casino and this time was no different. Unfortunately, neither was the outcome as I left empty handed. Maybe one day, huh?

Electronic Table Games

All of the Gold Eagle Casino’s electronic table games are located in an area known as The Circuit and you can choose from baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and Three Card Poker.

The electronic table games are available from 10am – 2am Sunday to Wednesday, 10am – 3am on Thursdays, and 10am – 4am Friday to Saturday, so it’s nice that there are options after the live tables have closed.

There isn’t any accommodation on-site but there is a hotel directly next door, and this is exactly where I decided to stay.

The Gold Eagle Lodge is just a five-minute walk away and offers the choice of 111 rooms and suites alongside a pool, spa, and a free hot breakfast.

The hotel is rated the best in the entire area so it is a little on the pricey side, with a standard room coming in at around $130 during the week. 

There are some cheaper options nearby if you’re on a budget, including the Battlefords Inn and Holiday Inn Express & Suites North Battleford. 

RV Parking

As is the case with all SIGA casinos, guests travelling in RVs are always welcome. 

Guests will need to provide their Players Club card along with general information such as the license plate of the vehicle, their name, contact information, the number of visitors, and length of stay.

There is power available but it is very limited voltage, so this is something to keep in mind.

Another thing to be aware of is that reservations are not accepted and parking spots are offered on a first come first served basis, so I’d recommend ringing ahead of your visit to check if there are any spaces available to avoid disappointment. 

Food and Drink

There’s usually one main food offering at SIGA casinos and here is no different. That's good, as food and drink is something that even the best online casinos can offer.

The Kihiw restaurant is open from 11am – 9pm daily and is the place to go if you fancy a sit-down meal. The menu is pretty standard for a casino, offering things like chicken wings, ribs, salads, steaks, burgers, and a small selection of desserts.

This place also offers a buffet on Sundays.

There is quite a few nearby eateries but I’d read some good reviews about the food from Kihiw’s so I decided to give it a go, and I’m glad I did. I opted for a steak and it was great, if not a little on the pricey side at $43.

There is a full bar too, which offers a range of spirits and lagers. In fact, SIGA actually has a range of signature lager and amber brews and I’d totally recommend trying these out if beer is your thing.

You can receive 10% off your bill too if you sign up to the Players Club scheme, but I’ll cover this in more detail later.

Another dining option is Kookum’s Kitchen which offers fried chicken and sides like potato wedges and coleslaw. 

This is open until 1am throughout the week and until 2am on the weekend, so it’s a good option for the night owls out on the casino floor such as me. In fact, this place did come in handy on the night I visited when I found myself a little peckish past the main restaurant’s opening hours.

If you’re looking for a light bite, the Deli & Bar offers things like pies, hot dogs, and sandwiches for under $10.

Entertainment 

The entertainment options are lacking a little at this casino and is perhaps the area where it loses the most points.

In the past, the casino has hosted live music and the like but there hasn’t been anything similar within the last few years. Unsurprisingly, the calendar was empty during my visit.

There is an entertainment facility here which is located just off the gaming floor and can be rented out for things like birthdays or staff parties though this just made it more surprising that regular live entertainment isn’t a thing here.

Smoking

Smoking is permitted within the designated area inside the casino. 

The smoking section has its own entrance and had an improved and upgraded HVAC system installed back in 2015 to help with ventilation.

The Gold Eagle Casino is fully accessible to wheelchair users and there are dedicated disabled toilets.

Having visited many a SIGA casino, I usually am pretty impressed with the bonuses and promotions that are on offer and the Gold Eagle Casino is no different from any of its counterparts.

Player’s Club Rewards

All seven of the SIGA casinos are part of the Player’s Club Rewards scheme which offers various benefits and discounts to casino-goers.

You can sign up for free at any SIGA casino by visiting the SIGA Casino Players Club desk and once registered, you’ll receive your very own Players Club card which you can then use to start earning loyalty points.

Check out how the points work below:

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

1,000 points can be redeemed for $5 cash back which can then be used on any of the slot machines in any SIGA casino.

The Player’s Club isn’t solely based on loyalty points though as once you’re a member, you’ll benefit from things like 10% off dining and entry into exclusive draws.

Promotions

Promotions at SIGA casinos change regularly, but you can check out some of the ones that were available during my visit (remember, these are subject to change) along with some ongoing ones.

• Stop in and Spin – Pop in to the casino and spin the wheel to be in with a chance of winning a prize.
• Road Tripping with SIGA – Visit all seven SIGA casinos to receive free play and entries into their draw for one of seven travel package prizes.
• 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.

Overall, I enjoyed my trip out to the Gold Eagle Casino and I would return if I ever find myself in the North Battleford area again.

I really enjoyed eating at the Kihiw restaurant but I did find the prices to be a little steep. The exclusive SIGA lagers are a personal favourite of mine and I advise any lager fans to try them out.

I spent a couple of hours out on the casino floor, mainly on a blackjack table and on the slot machines. I found the selection of slot machines to be really good and I enjoyed trying out my luck on the exclusive progressive jackpots.

My main gripe is the lack of live entertainment. I’m somebody who appreciates the odd live band or comedy act so that you can really make a night out of visiting, but there hasn’t been a show here since 2019 so I won’t hold my breath. 

The atmosphere at this casino definitely felt more relaxed than rambunctious but I liked this. Don’t get me wrong, there were big crowds and there was a buzz about the place but it felt more contained.

As the only casino in the area, the Gold Eagle Casino offers a decent gambling experience.

The Gold Eagle Casino is the oldest in the SIGA but I think recent refurbishments have helped bring the place up to date and keep it relevant.

I don’t think the absence of a hotel in this case is a big deal considering the Gold Eagle Lodge next door but the absence of live entertainment definitely lets this place down. It’s something which needs to be looked as I believe it could really elevate this place.

I think this casino is great for casual gamblers but I’m not sure I’d recommend it to high rollers as there aren’t many options besides the lure of the progressive jackpots. Again, this comes down to personal preference and I didn’t mind at all.