When people think of casino resorts in North America, their attention immediately turns to the likes of Las Vegas and New Jersey. But did you know that Canada boasts casinos that, in some cases, have been around as long as many of those in Sin City?
Urban development, and liberalization of gaming laws in some provinces, are leading to a thriving casino sector across Canada. If you’re looking to play at the blackjack table, roulette wheel or whatever your favourite game may be, there’s a huge range of options at your disposal. To help you get started, here are five of the most popular casinos in Canada for tourists.
Casino Niagara
If you’re heading to Ontario on your travels, chances are that at some point, you will take in the splendour of Niagara Falls.
After getting some Insta-worthy snaps, you’ll note that the area has not one but two casinos for you to sample. The first is Casino Niagara, which was established way back in 1996 and offers stunning views of the Falls. As well as boasting some 1,300 slot machines and an extensive suite of blackjack, roulette and poker games, Casino Niagara also offers guests the choice of three different restaurants and live entertainment every weekend.
A stone’s throw away, quite literally, is the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort. Like its neighbourhood competitor, the venue offers unparalleled vistas of the Horseshoe Falls in addition to a huge variety of slots and table games – befitting of a casino that has been classified as Canada’s largest at over 200,000 square feet.
Casino de Montreal
A trip to Quebec brings with it many possibilities for tourists, including the site of one of the biggest casinos in Canada. Found on the banks of Notre Dame Island, the casino welcomes more than 18,000 visitors per day. They get to enjoy a suite of over 3,000 slots and hundreds of card games and roulette variants, a selection of gourmet restaurants and accommodation for all budgets across the building’s five floors.
Notre Dame is one of Canada’s tourist gems. In addition to an array of eateries and shops, you can also try your hand at a variety of water sports or relax on the Jean-Dore beach.
Caesars Windsor Hotel & Casino
You’ve probably heard the Caesars name before. This gambling operator is synonymous with the sector, offering sportsbooks and both land-based and digital casinos in Canada. The Windsor Hotel & Casino property is actually owned by the Canadian government, which chose Caesars to run it on its behalf. A short distance from the US border – in fact, you can see it from the Ambassador Bridge as you cross the Detroit River – the Caesars Windsor is able to welcome guests from both countries, which makes the venue a particularly popular hotspot.
The resort offers plenty for folks who love the thrill of casino gaming but are also looking for a more holistic experience. There’s a huge array of gaming tables as well as a sports park, gym, fitness centre and a spa, plus an entertainment venue to enjoy a variety of live shows.
One of the great things about Caesars Windsor is that it combines the dizzying excitement of being located in a busy neighbourhood with an abundance of beauty and green space on its doorstep. You can stop by the Windsor Waterfront or take a walk through the Centennial and Great Western Parks, and of course it should be said that Detroit is no slouch when it comes to casino gaming either.
St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino
Whether you’re stopping off in vibrant Vancouver or hitting the slopes at the stunning Whistler Blackcomb ski resort, British Columbia should be high on your list of Canadian tourist destinations.
While in the region, you can enjoy a trip to a handful of casinos, and golfers will love a dual-purpose trip to the St Eugene Resort & Casino. There’s an 18-hole course as well as a health club, swimming pool and sauna available to guests – not to mention the eye-catching views of the Rockies.
There’s also an online casino with more than 200 slot machines and gaming tables as well as a selection of restaurants and a dedicated sportsbook facility.
If you aren’t able to make it to St Eugene’s or you are looking to kill some time ahead of your flight from Vancouver National Airport, you can always stop by the River Rock Casino. The fast-paced action here takes place across a vast gaming floor that includes more than 1,000 slot machines, roulette, blackjack, craps, poker and sports betting, as well as a separate VIP section for high rollers.
If you want to get some air you can take a walk along the Fraser River, if you want to try a sport you may never have played before there’s badminton courts nearby, and for entertainment closer to your base you could always take in a show at the River Rock Theatre.
Casino Rama Resort
While blessed with casino resorts and gaming centres, Ontario also does not fall short when it comes to visiting stars of music, comedy and entertainment. That’s one of the reasons why the Casino Rama Resort stands out so much – it tends to welcome the best of the bunch, and as such is the perfect location for tourists.
Its entertainment venue, which is famed throughout Canada, is scheduled to re-open in 2022, and the rather eclectic list of acts stopping by includes Ringo Starr, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Michael Bolton and Avril Lavigne.
When it comes to gaming, let’s just say that the Casino Rama Resort has your back. There are a staggering 2,200 slots on the premises, more than 100 gaming tables and as many as eight restaurants to choose from, plus a hotel on site if you want to stay close by.
It’s fair to say that when it comes to casino gaming, Canada has plenty of excitement to offer!
