Our story begins here.

The Gambling Awareness Program (GAP) is a long running program of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Saskatchewan Division. GAP has a mandate to deliver the public education and community development components of the provincial Problem Gambling Program. We help Saskatchewan communities learn more about gambling, the risks associated with gambling, how to stay safe while gambling, using social media, playing video games, and using digital entertainment. Our work includes the delivery of engaging community-based presentations, attend events with the interactive GAP display, and distribute helping resources to the public right across Saskatchewan.

In the mid 1990s, Saskatchewan experienced significant changes to its gambling industry. Until then, traditional forms of gambling such as lotteries, exhibition casinos, bingos, and horse racing dominated the landscape.

However, around 1993, there was a major shift with the development of casinos and the expansion of the Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) network.

During this period of growth, Saskatchewan also prioritized addressing the negative impacts of gambling. Support systems, including health region counselling services, the Problem Gambling Help-Line, and the provincial prevention education program, the Gambling Awareness Program (GAP), were established. The provision of services was implemented to help mitigate the risks associated with gambling and provide assistance to those affected. 

More recently, federal legislation changes in 2021 allowed for single-event sports betting, and soon afterward, Saskatchewan launched its first online casino. As gambling continues to expand, it is vital to have appropriate services to help those individuals who are negatively affected.