In Canada, Monday saw the Border Tribal Council and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority hold a special ground-breaking ceremony to mark the official start of construction on a new casino for the Saskatchewan city of Lloydminster.

The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority earlier revealed that the coming 31,000 sq ft facility, which has been provisionally named Eagle Park West, could create up to 140 jobs and is set to offer approximately 250 slots alongside six to eight gaming tables while future development could lead to the addition of a 250-room hotel as well as a 1,500-seat convention center, restaurant, and convenience store.

“On behalf of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, we’re excited to officially be in the ground and to continue working with the Border Tribal Council to make this development a reality,” read a statement from Reginald Bellerose, Chairman for the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. “This casino will not only benefit the community of Lloydminster but all First Nations of Saskatchewan and is only possible through the positive partnerships between the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, Border Tribal Council, Little Pine First Nation and the City of Lloydminster.”

The $15.5 million plan for Eagle Park West received conditional approval from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority in late-April of 2016 before August saw the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations vote to permit the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority to expand into the border city of 27,800 people for the purposes of running a gambling establishment.

The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, which already offers employment to more than 1,870 people via six casinos in the western Canadian province including the Northern Lights Casino in Prince Albert and Whitecap’s Dakota Dunes Casino, explained that its latest venue will sit on land owned by the Little Pine First Nation. As such, the tribe explained that it is to lease the site to the operator in exchange for a share of the profits.

“The new casino will have significant benefits for Lloydminster [as] it will create local employment, provide funding for city services, non-profit and charitable organizations and it will support local businesses through service agreements and by attracting tourism dollars to the community,” read a statement from Zane Hansen, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority.