Groups and organizations that raise money through charitable gaming may soon be using electronic technology to conduct bingos and raffles.

“Our government continues to revise its regulatory functions where appropriate,” Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority Donna Harpauer said. “The changes being made will provide new opportunities for groups and organizations that raise important dollars for their communities through charitable gaming.”

On the bingo side, charities will be able to enhance their operations by introducing electronic bingo minders. Bingo minders allow players to play bingo on a handheld electronic device rather than using traditional paper and dabbers.

“Bingo minders are something that our players have been asking about and represents the new age of bingo,” Amalgamated Charities Inc. President Peter Morin said. “We’re pleased that government is adopting new policies that will help charities that rely on bingo as a way to raise important fundraising dollars.”

Another change will see licensed groups and organizations process raffle tickets online if they choose. This change will be of particular benefit for large raffle licensees such as home lotteries that sell a large volume of tickets. Previously tickets could only be ordered online. Like most other jurisdictions, the actual processing of the payment and issuing of the tickets was done separately ‘offline’ and tickets were issued by mail. With the change, Saskatchewan will be the first province to allow online processing of raffle tickets.

Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority will be consulting with the industry as it develops terms and conditions associated with these changes. It’s expected the changes will be implemented later this summer.

In 2011-12, Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority issued more than 3,400 charitable gaming licences to groups and organizations that conduct bingo, raffles, breakopen ticket sales, Texas Hold’em poker and Monte Carlo events.