Welcoming 300,000 visitors annually, the Painted Hand Casino is a First Nation’s casino and Yorkton’s only gambling facility.

The casino originally started out in a former grocery store on 3^rd Avenue North upon its inauguration all the way back in 1996 before being relocated to its current location on Broadway Street West.

The $30 million entertainment facility was one of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority’s (SIGA) original four casinos in the region, alongside the Gold Eagle Casino, the Northern Lights Casino, the Bear Claw Casino, and the White Bear Reserve.

Today, SIGA operates seven casinos throughout Saskatchewan, with each one providing a unique experience.

So, I went along to the Painted Hand Casino and spent a day there to what this First Nation’s casino has to offer.

Like I mentioned before, the casino was previously housed in a 15,000 square foot building in north east Yorkton but following a $30 million investment was relocated to a 43,000 square foot venue back in 2009.

The extra space allowed for some new additions which included a couple of eateries and plenty of new gaming machines.

The Painted Hand Casino is open daily, 10am – 3am Sunday to Wednesday, and 10am – 4am Thursday to Saturday. 

Location

The Painted Hand Casino is located at 510 Broadway Street West, in Yorkton, southern eastern Saskatchewan; 300 kilometres from Saskatoon and 400 kilometres from Winnipeg.

The closest major airports are Regina International Airport, 200 kilometres south west of the casino, and Brandon Municipal airport, 270 kilometres south east of the casino. 

The casino is conveniently located near two major highways (9 and 10) that pass through the city, so arriving by car is super straightforward. 

If you do decide to arrive by car, which is certainly the best option, there is ample free parking available. Simply punch S3N 0P3 into your satnav and you’ll be directed straight there.

The Painted Hand Casino also offers space for guests travelling in RVs but parking spots are available on a first come, first serve basis and reservations are not accepted.

Upon arrival, you will be asked for your license plate, name, contact information, number of visitors, and the intended length of your stay. You will then be permitted to hook up to either 30 or 15-amp plugs.

Looking to public transport, Yorkton is serviced solely by bus as there is no train station, though this is limited to local travel.

The exterior of the Painted Hand Casino is about what you’d expect from a First Nations casino.

Sandy coloured walls are complimented by subtle tribal patterns and the entranceway features statues of tribesmen on horseback. It’s all very atmospheric.

Unfortunately, I found that the cultural aesthetic didn’t fully transfer into the interior of the casino. 

In fact, the interior is actually quite modern. There’s a very funky carpet that winds its way through the casino floor and this is enhanced by an abundance of neon lightning and a somewhat questionable centrepiece which vaguely resembles a UFO.

Don’t get me wrong, the casino doesn’t look bad. It’s just not the style I was expecting to find inside, nor the style I would have chosen if I’d had designed the place myself.

Thankfully, looks aren’t everything. With this in mind, lets jump into what you can find on the Painted Hand Casino floor.

Slots

Undoubtedly, the main focus at this casino is on the slots. 

With over 200 to choose from from providers like WMS, IGT, and Aristocrat and an array of local progressive jackpot slot machines, there’s a slot out there for everyone at this place.

Perhaps the most alluring of all the slot machines here is the SIGA-wide progressive jackpot Smoke Signals.

Smoke Signals links 51 slot machines at all seven casinos and has three mystery jackpot tiers that increase over time, with specific starting and ending prize values. 

The largest mystery jackpot has a minimum value of $1,000,000 and pays out before it hits $2,000,000. Each time a customer plays a Smoke Signals slot machine, any of the jackpots could be triggered which is pretty damn alluring.

Indeed, with temptation like that I couldn’t resist having a go. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as lucky as the lady that walked away with a $1.8 million jackpot last month, but I had fun trying (and fantasizing) about it at least.

Electronic Table Games

The electronic table games are found in an area known as The Circuit and you can choose from roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and three card poker.

The machines are all super modern and there is a live dealer which hosts some of the games each day which helps create a bit more of an immersive feel.

Another plus is that the electronic games here are very accessible, with a minimum bet of just $2 required. 

On the other end of the scale, high rollers can place bets of up to $5,000.

Live Table Games

Now, I know what you’re thinking: where are the live table games at?

Unfortunately, the Hand Painted Casino does not currently offer any live table games. Sacrilege, huh?

I was disappointed when I found out about the lack of live table games prior to my visit and I definitely felt their absence during my time at the casino; I just don’t think the atmosphere can reach its full potential without the social aspect of sitting around a live table.

Having said that, I still enjoyed myself and the fact that a live dealer does regularly host some of the electronic games kind of softened the blow ever so slightly.

Service

The service here deserves a mention as its absolutely fantastic – which seems to be a running theme at First Nation casinos.

I was made to feel welcome from the second I step foot in the building and from there on out, every member of staff I interacted with was friendly and knowledgeable when I asked them questions.

There’s no on-site accommodation available at the Painted Hand Casino but there are a handful of options nearby if you need somewhere to stay after a night on the tables.

The best option is the Home Inn & Suites which is located on the same street as the casino and is where I chose to stay.

The Home Inn & Suites hotel is home to 80 rooms, ranging from traditional hotel rooms to jacuzzi suites. The hotel provides a free complimentary breakfast and has a great range of amenities including an indoor pool and fitness centre, so there’s everything you need to enjoy a short stay.

Some other options within the area include the Holiday Inn Express Yorkton East, the Quality Inn & Suites, and the Redwood Motel.

Food and Drink

If you fancy a bite to eat, Legends is the place to go here. Open from 10:45am – 9pm daily, Legends provides a typical casino menu which includes things like steaks, burgers, fish and chips, and wings.

There isn’t too much to choose from in the area foodwise, so I did choose to try out the Legends restaurant, opting for a portion of wings and fries which was great by the way.

Another option is the Kookum’s Kitchen. As you can probably guess, chicken is the star of the show here, with you being able to choose how many pieces of fried chicken you’d like along with a selection of sides like potato wedges, coleslaw, and potato salad.

Or, if you’re in the middle of a winning streak out on the casino floor and need something fast, you can pick up a light bite at the Deli & Bar which offers things like hot dogs and sandwiches. 

From the bar, be sure to check out SIGA’s signature own-brew lager – it’s fantastic! If beers not your thing, you can choose from cocktails, spirits, wine, and a range of shots.

Note that there is access to complimentary tea, coffee, and pop throughout your stay which you can help yourself to from various machines around the casino. That nay not excite those used to Las vegas style waitress service and comped alcoholic drinks, but it's something even the best online casinos can't offer.

Entertainment 

The Painted Hand Casino does offer regular entertainment, making it a popular Yorkton rendezvous spot.

For starters, there’s a live DJ set that takes to the casino floor every Friday night from 7pm – 2am. Now, while this doesn’t exactly marry up with the casinos First Nation roots, everyone loves a party and I think it’s a great way to stay relevant.

Other common offerings here include live music, comedy shows, and tribute bands.

Speaking of tribute bands, an example of an upcoming event is an evening with Restless Texas in October. Restless Texas pays homage to popular 90s bands Restless Hearts and Little Texas, so a night to remember could be on the cards there.

Dress Code

There’s no need to go digging out your best suit or frock for a visit here as there’s no dress code in place. 

Wear what feels comfortable for you but err on the side of caution and try and avoid things like ripped jeans and tracksuit bottoms.

Smoking

Smoking is permitted within specially ventilated smoking areas inside the casino.

You’ll find a small selection of slots available in these areas too, so you can enjoy a spin on the reels with a cigarette in hand.

The Painted Hand Casino is fully accessible to wheelchair users and there are dedicated disabled toilets.

Player’s Club Rewards

Like all the other seven SIGA casinos, the Painted Hand Casino is part of the Players Club rewards program.

The Player’s Club scheme is free to join and offers things like discounts and rewards. All you need to do is visit the Casino Players Club desk with a form of government-issued photo ID. Remember though, you must be 19 to gamble in Saskatchewan, so only those aged 19+ may sign up to the scheme.

Once you’ve completed the registration, you’ll receive a Players Club card which you can then insert into any of the slot machines or electronic gaming machines to begin earning loyalty points.

You can see exactly how the points system 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 redeem them for $5 cash back which can then be used on any of the slot machines.

The benefits don’t stop there though. Members of the Player Club program can benefit from 10% off dining at the restaurants, access to member-only draws and promotions, discounts for on-site entertainment events, and free slot play birthday vouchers.

I’m always appreciative of a good rewards program and I think this one in particular is great. I’d totally recommend signing up, even if you’re only planning on visiting the once.

All things considered; I had a good time at the Painted Hand Casino.

I think it offers enough to warrant an afternoon or an evening but the absence of the table games definitely makes it a short-stay casino.

I spent the majority of the time checking out and playing the range of slots machines on offer and I appreciated the unique progressive jackpot options even despite me not lucking out and leaving a millionaire.

The food is a definite highlight here too and there are plenty of customers that come in solely for a bite to eat just because of how good it is.

I found the place to be really well taken care of and I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, though I did visit mid-week and I was informed that things can get much livelier on the weekend.

Considering the Painted Hand Casino is the only casino within 200 kilometres of Yorkton, it goes without saying that it provides the best experience in the area.

Obviously, the fact there aren’t any live tables games here is a drawback and I think it’s important to be aware of this before visiting as it’s probably not the best choice of casino for die hard live table fans.

I tend to do a little bit of research before I visit a new casino and I was therefore aware of this beforehand, but I imagine it would be pretty disappointing if you arrived with the intention to enjoy some table time. 

However, the other gaming options are great, the atmosphere is cheerful, there’s regular entertainment, and there’s good food at good prices, so it’s hard not to recommend a visit really.