The Living Sky Casino is part of the SIGA dynasty and is situated in Swift Current, the sixth-largest city in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

In the name of context, SIGA (Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority) was founded in 1995 and operates seven casinos throughout Saskatchewan.

The first four casinos in the chain, based in North Battleford, Prince Albert, Carlyle, and Yorkton, were opened throughout 1996, and the other three casinos, based in Lloydminster, Swift Current, and Saskatoon, have opened throughout the decades as SIGA has grown.

The Living Sky Casino opened its doors back in 2008 at a cost of $35 million, providing Swift Current with its first gambling facility. 

I visited the Living Sky Casino towards the end of my expedition across Saskatchewan, an expedition that saw me visit all seven of SIGA’s casinos, so I was feeling confident in my expectations and was prepared to pit it against my previous experiences.

And on that note, lets take a look at what the Living Sky Casino has to offer.

The Living Sky Casino’s location along the Trans-Canada Highway makes it a convenient stopping point for the millions of visitors that pass through Swift Current each year.

There’s isn’t any on-site accommodation attached which I found quite surprising considering its location but there are plenty of options nearby.

The 50,000 square foot venue is home to a great range of slots, including progressive jackpot slots with jackpots up to $2million which are exclusive to SIGA casinos, a restaurant, an entertainment facility, and plenty of RV parking spaces, so it’s no wonder it’s popular with the weary traveller. 

Location

The Living Sky Casino is located at 1401 North Service Road in Swift Current, conveniently along the Trans-Canada highway, in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

If you’re familiar with the Swift Current area at all, you’ll know that there isn’t a great deal going on and it’s for this reason that the majority of people arrive at the casino by car or RV.

Having said that, the casino does provide a daily shuttle bus service which runs from 7pm until closing time, so if you can make it to Swift Current, I’d recommend taking advantage of that.

Note that the nearest airports to the casino are Regina Internation Airport and Saskatoon International Airport.

The Living Sky Casino is open daily, from 10am–2am. 

The outside of the casino is typical First Nation style which I always appreciate. A pretty flowerbed outside the entrance is no doubt a welcoming sight after a few gruelling hours along the highway. 

The interior is fairly standard but I did notice that it is considerably brighter than other SIGA casinos I’ve visited. Whether this is a good thing or not will come down to personal preference really, but I quite liked it.

One thing to highlight in particular is the staff – they were fantastic. Every single member of staff I came into contact with was so friendly that it almost made me feel as though I was talking to a friend instead of somebody that worked there.

Live Table Game Selection

Disappointingly, there are no longer any live tables at this casino.

I say ‘no longer’ as the handful of live tables that used to reside on the casino floor were removed in recent years to make way for more electronic table games.

Sadly, electronic table games take precedent at many SIGA casinos. 

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind a session on an electronic machine but for me personally, nothing beats the atmosphere of sitting around a live table.

When I enquired about this, I was told that SIGA generally are turning more towards electronic options every year, so whether live tables will be phased out at all seven of their casinos remains to be seen.

I really hope this is not the case as not only do I think it would have a negative impact on the chain as a whole, but I also don’t think it suits the First Nation style.

Slots

SIGA are big on slots and the Living Sky Casino proves this.

Though isn’t a huge number to choose from, the 200 you can choose from are from great providers such as IGT and Konami and the machines are all super modern.

While the standard slots are good, it’s the progressive jackpot slots that are in the spotlight at this casino.

Exclusive to SIGA casinos, casino-goers can choose from Smoke Signals, with a maximum jackpot of $2million, Rider Nation, with a maximum jackpot of $100,000, and Power Bucks, with a maximum jackpot of $1 million.

While I’d tried my luck on Smoke Signals and Rider Nation before, I’d never even heard of Power Bucks, so I decided to give it a go. As you have probably guessed, I didn’t walk away a millionaire, but I had fun trying at least.

Electronic Table Games

The Circuit is the area of the casino floor which is home to all of the electronic table games. The choice of games is pretty standard: roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and Three Card Poker.

Considering this was the closest I could get to a live table experience I did spend an hour or so on a blackjack machine before moving on to a Three Card Poker machine.

All of the machines are available daily from 10am–2am.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a hotel attached to the casino. I think this is a shame and a bit of a missed opportunity considering the isolate location.

Anyhow, there are numerous places to stay nearby so the lack of accommodation isn’t a deal breaker.

The closest place to the casino is the Home Inn & Suites – Swift Current, which is where I decided to stay. 

Located directly over the road, this place offers 104 rooms and suites alongside an indoor pool, fitness centre, and complimentary hot breakfast.

I really enjoyed my stay and thought the $130 price point was fair for what I received. Plus, the free parking came in handy considering I was travelling by car.

Some other options nearby include the Coast Swift Current Hotel, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, and Motel 6.

RV Parking

If you’re travelling by RV, the Living Sky Casino does provide dedicated spaced for guests to park up.

You will need to provide your Players Club card upon arrival and provide some general information such as the license plate of your vehicle, your name, contact information, the number of visitors, and length of stay.

The only downside is that there is no power supply here, so bear this in mind.

Food and Drink

SIGA Casinos usually have one standout restaurant and the place in question at the Living Sky Casino is the Horizon’s Restaurant. 

Open daily from 11am–10pm, the restaurant offers a fairly typical casino style kind of menu, with things like burgers, steaks, ribs, and fish and chips available.

I did scout out some of the food options in the local area as I’d already eaten out at a few casinos in the same week, but I found that most of the options nearby were fast food places so in the end, I decided to put Horizon’s Restaurant to the test.

I opted for a marinated chicken dish which came with garlic mashed potatoes and it was honestly fantastic, though at $24 I thought it was beginning to edge onto the expensive side, especially when you consider a 15% tip.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere in the Horizon’s Restaurant and it was clear that this is a popular spot with travellers, not just casino-goers.

If you feel like something a bit more informal, I’d suggest trying out Kookum’s Kitchen which serves fried chicken with a range of sides such as potato wedges and coleslaw. This place is open daily from 10am–2am which is gives the late night casino floor dwellers somewhere to go if they’re peckish. 

Food is something land based casinos can offer to distinguish themselves from the best online casinos, so it's always nice to see a property making some effort here. 

Similarly, the Deli & Bar offers a limited menu with things like hot dogs, taquitos, and sandwiches to choose from for under $10.

The bar serves a wide variety of drinks including cocktails, beer, spirits, and wine. I personally recommend the White Sangria cocktail!

Entertainment 

I usually find that the entertainment offerings are pretty good at SIGA casinos so I was a little disappointed to see that it’s quite irregular at this casino. 

The only event currently in the Living Sky Casino calendar is a live music event by the name of Ladies of the Country which features Lisa Brokop, Patricia Conroy, and Beverely Mahood as they preform their biggest hits from the 90s.

This is scheduled for October and while I have no doubt it will make for a great night out but I think a $75 ticket price is verging on scandalous to be honest.

Live events were a bit more regular a few years ago so whether this is something that will pick up again remains to be seen.

Sky Casino Event Centre

The Living Sky Casino is home to a multi-functional facility which can be arranged in different ways to suit different needs. 

The space is primarily used for events such as birthdays, staff parties, weddings, and live entertainment events.

Smoking

There is a dedicated smoking room inside the casino where smoking is permitted.

Alternatively, guests can step outside to smoke.

The Living Sky Casino is fully accessible to wheelchair users and there are dedicated disabled toilets.

Player’s Club Rewards

The Players Club Rewards scheme isn’t exclusive to the Living Sky Casino, it’s the program that’s in place across all seven SIGA casinos. 

I’m all for a loyalty program as I think it’s a great way to reward plyers and show appreciation for their customer, and I think the SIGA one in particular is really good.

Signing up to the Players Club Rewards scheme is free and can be done by visiting the SIGA Casino Players Club desk at any SIGA casino. Once registered, you’ll receive a Players Club card which you can then use to start earning loyalty points

The points system is easy to grasp (unlike some others I’ve encountered in the past) 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.

Once you’ve accumulated 1,000 points, you can exchange them for $5 cashback which you can then spend at any of the slot machines.

The Player’s Club program isn’t solely based on loyalty points though as you’ll also benefit from things like 10% off dining inside the casino and entry into exclusive member-only draws.

So, if you ask me, it’s well worth singing up to, even if you’re only planning on visiting once.

Promotions

SIGA casino promotions change regularly and there are new ones all the time.

There were numerous offers available during my visit and I’ve included a list of some of them below, but remember, these are subject to change.

• Stop in and Spin – Visit the Living Sky Casino and spin the wheel to be in with a chance of winning a prize.
• Stay, Play & Dine – Pay $10, play $20 promotion with a $5 coupon to the Bar and Grill restaurant for Player’s Club members staying at select local partnered hotels (includes my recommended Home Inn & Suites – Swift Current).
• 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.
• 55+ Day – Members aged 55 or over can spin to win prizes every Monday.
• New Member – Sign up to the Player’s Club rewards club and receive $10 in slot play.

I think the thing I enjoyed most about this casino was the atmosphere.

As a bit of a stopgap considering its position on the Trans-Canada Highway, it was clear there were a lot of travellers in the casino and at the restaurant, but I think this made for a really nice feel about the place.

I definitely noticed the absence of the live table games, as I have done in all of the SIGA casinos which don’t provide them. I don’t think the electronic games are a good enough substitute for the real thing, but if that’s the way SIGA want to do things, what can you do?

I really enjoyed my meal at the Horizon’s Restaurant in particular, it was probably one of the highlights actually, and I would absolutely recommend checking this out if you find yourself at the casino.

My experience was made that much better by the staff. As I was visiting on my own as a solo female traveller, I really appreciated the friendliness and hospitality I was shown, so this is a big plus too.

As the only casino within the area of Swift Current, I think the Living Sky Casino offers a good gambling experience.

Considering it’s located along the Trans-Canada Highway, it most definitely has an air of temporariness, for lack of a better word, about it. 

What I mean by this is that it feels almost like a hub for travellers; people just passing through who want a hot meal and a dose of entertainment before they go on their way.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean this as a bad thing at all. In fact, I really enjoyed it and I think it’s a great place for a stopover. 

Of course, that’s not to say that Swift Current locals don’t frequent the place regularly too. 

In any case, the Living Sky Casino has a great range of slots, a very good restaurant, plenty of electronic machines, and a variety of promotions to benefit from, so it gets a thumbs up from me.