The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) is gearing up to welcome back patrons.

The First Nation owned gaming authority which owns and operates seven casinos across Saskatchewan plans to welcome the public back on June 20 as part of the second phase of the province’s reopening plan.

Patricia Cook, vice president of corporate affairs with SIGA explained when they reopen, their properties will be welcoming a limited number of people.

“As part of step two we’re able to have 150 people maximum, so that will be at every casino that we have,” she said.

Cook said SIGA will have in place many of the same precautions they did when they opened up after they were first forced to close due to COVID-19. These precautions will include signing in so proper contact tracing can be done if needed.

Work will soon be getting underway to get casinos ready to welcome guests again, Cook said they are working through a process to make sure everything is ready.

She added SIGA will be bringing back a number of workers at their casinos and head office in Saskatoon.

“We’ll do a phased in approach, but we’re bring back just about 900 people,” she said.

Being forced to have to close down twice in 14 months due the pandemic has been hard on the company.

Cook said they are looking forward to again providing financial support to communities and organizations as they have in the past, but she added the company will need some time to recover.

“It’ll take us a little time to rebuild and get the company back on its feet,” she said.