CASINO REGINA ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY RELEASED

Joanne Crofford, minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Gaming
Corporation, today said a recently completed study shows that Casino
Regina is making a major impact on the economy of Regina and
Saskatchewan. The minister released the results of an economic
assessment conducted by Tourism Saskatchewan to measure the operational
and tourism impacts of Casino Regina on the city and province.

"This assessment illustrates that after only one year of operation,
Casino Regina is already an important factor in our economy and it has
delivered a major boost to the tourism industry," Crofford said.

The study puts the impact of the casino into perspective by equating
the economic activity generated by the casino to the province hosting
two Grey Cups or seven Big Valley Jamborees in one year.

The casino produced an estimated gross output (goods and services
expenditures, labour output and business profits) totalling nearly
$54.3 million, of which $50.4 million was in Regina. Measured on the
basis of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Casino Regina accounted for
an estimated $29.1 million in GDP during its first year of operation.

"From the government's standpoint, the most significant measurement was
the job creation impact," Crofford said. "The study estimated Casino
Regina created or maintained 1,100 full- and part-time positions, with
labour income totalling $21.5 million."

Casino Regina drew 1.4 million guest-visits during its first year, with
37 per cent of those visits from Regina and 16.7 per cent from other
Saskatchewan points. Manitoba and Alberta made up 41.6 per cent, with
the remainder coming from other provinces, United States and overseas.

To illustrate the impact Casino Regina has had on tourism, the study
estimated the casino drew 101,000 people to Regina and that they spent
$16.9 million. Of the total, 73,200 visitors were from outside
Saskatchewan. Expanded tourism accounted for 550 of the 1,100 jobs
attributed to the casino.

"The figures included in the impact study show that Casino Regina has
had a significant impact on the general economy, on our business
community through the purchase of goods and services and increased
tourism activity and on the employment opportunities for Saskatchewan
people," Crofford said.

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For more information, contact:

Kathy Maher-Wolbaum
Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-1592