As the second-largest country on the planet, with a population just under 38 million, Canada is home to nearly 90 brick-and-mortar casinos. In other words, one casino for roughly every 432,000-or-so Canadians. While the ratio might not be that high, the few good casinos that Canada has are more than satisfying for players of all levels of expertise.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic that has taken over the planet has largely affected all industries and land casino gambling in Canada has also suffered. We can mention the example of One Toronto Gaming, the company that has initiated the construction of the Pickering Casino Resort in Ontario 2019. The resort was expected to open in April 2020 and it was supposed to feature 2,000 slot machines, over 160 live dealer terminals and 100 table games. Sadly, its launch has been delayed indefinitely because of the pandemic. Other land casinos have also suffered serious losses during the pandemic. At the moment, under provincial guidelines, brick-and-mortar casinos are allowed to open. Whoever, they must closely follow the important restrictions regarding indoor gathering of only 50 people at a time. Players must adhere to a six-meter physical distancing and, while allowed to indulge in slot machines, they are not yet able to play table games. A land casino that would otherwise receive 11,000 patrons all at once should be restricted to 50, which is definitely not worth it for most casinos that would only lose money by reopening.
Luckily, there are tons of stellar online casinos for Canadian players to enjoy until things will gets sorted out with land casinos in Canada, hopefully, in the near future. However, charitable gaming, lotteries, horse races and video lottery terminals (VLTs) are all accepted here, according to the current province laws.
Nonetheless, this should not stop you from wanting to know what are the best Canadian provinces with casinos for your upcoming trips there. You should also know that, besides the “standard” land casinos, the country also hosts 32 extra land casinos displaying generous offers consisting of slots and video lottery terminals. Without further ado, here are the most popular Canadian provinces with casinos.
Alberta counts no less than 28 casinos, all licensed and packed with fun slots (Bully's and Evergreen Park), electronic roulette games (Century Downs) or electronic table games (Century Mile). You can also find a plethora of live table games in the rest of the land casinos in Alberta, all officially regulated by the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission in the province.
The Stoney Nakoda Resort Casino, set in one of Canada's most picturesque settings, features slots machines, a full range of table games, poker rooms and off track betting. The resort-hotel & casino also offers on-site lounges, restaurants, an indoor swimming pool, and a wide selection of packaged day trips.
Another Canadian province with casinos is Manitoba. It currently hosts five casinos offering table games, plus the Assiniboia Downs Racetrack that offers VLTs. The Aseneskak is actually self-proclaimed “the best little casino” in the country, and they also host live blackjack games. They organize poker and Let it Ride tourneys and they are the best land casinos in Manitoba. The Sand Hills Casino counts more than 300 slot machines along with Double Deck Blackjack, blackjack and roulette games. Players who are passionate about Live Poker games will also enjoy this casino that has a Gold Club rewarding players for their wagers. Dunes restaurant hosts fun themed buffet night while the Oasis Lounge is excellent for relaxing with friends, watching a game on a big screen or attending free live music shows on Saturdays and Sundays.
With three bingo halls and thirty-four casinos, British Columbia welcomes interested players with some fun, full-fledged casinos with live table games, electronic table and slot games. Names like Kelowna, Castelgar, Chances Abbotsford or Chances specialize in bingo, slots and electronic blackjack. The BC Lottery Corporation is responsible for regulating the brick-and-mortar casinos here, which are governed by the Gaming Control Act.
The River Rock Casino near Vancouver is the largest casino in BC with loads of slot machines, tables for poker or blackjack games. With a marina and over a thousand slot machines, horse racing gambling, VIP rooms, and nearly 400 rooms and suites, the River Rock Casino Resort is well worth a visit.
If you are looking for a full-fledge land casino in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, you should look for Casino NB. You will definitely enjoy the nice selection of live dealer table games there and the spa, fine dining options and excellent shows that attract a big crowd in this 4.5-star resort with a 4 diamond rating. The casino is located just ten minutes away from the Greater Moncton International Airport. Are you a big fan of electronic roulette or blackjack titles? Check out Grey Rock casino, as they host plenty of them, as well as over two hundred slot games.
The New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation is responsible for regulating land gambling here. All casinos are regulated by the Casino Chapter of the Gaming Control Act, while The Gaming, Liquor and Security Licensing Branch issues casino licenses.
There are only two land casinos here (Casino Nova Scotia and AFN Entertainment Centre) and they fall under the jurisdiction of the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation. Casino Nova Scotia counts more than 650 slots games and table games and it is tied to the Marriot Halifax Harbourfront through a pedway. The casino also hosts a few drinking and dining options and the night buffets and Sunday Brunches are some of the most popular attractions here. They are part of the 3Sixty Buffet Restaurant where live shows and music concerts are a regular occurance.
With close to thirty land based casinos, Ontario is definitely an excellent destination for tourists who love to gamble. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is responsible for regulating land casinos in the province. One of the biggest attractions in Ontario is the Fallsview Casino Resort located in Niagara Falls. With a rich history behind it and many spectacular local tourist attractions to create even more excitement, the casino was backed by the Ontario government with more than $1 billion. The investment was well worth it, as the casino-resort turned into an excellent go-to place for locals and tourists from abroad. Counting more than 2,000 dining options and over 3,000 slot machines on top of one hundred gaming tables, gamblers are spoilt for choice. There are also more than luxurious hotel rooms that can accommodate passionate players and the 30,000 square feet space designed for conferences also catches the eye. There are world-famous chefs for foodies who love to test various foods from across the world.
Caesars Windsor Hotel and Casino is another exquisite destination located just across from Detroit, Michagan near the the Detroit River. Lots of gamers from the U.S. visit the casino since the legal gambling age here is 19, whereas the US does not allow them to gamble unless they are 21. The hotel can accommodate thousands of guests in its 700 luxury rooms, but what attracts guests the most is the impressive gaming floor featuring the world-renowned 14-table poker room, topped by tens of gaming tables and slots. Many popular singers and performing artists visit Caesars all year long, providing guests with world-class entertainment.
There are several land casinos in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) that covers York, Peel or Durham, along with the City of Toronto. Casino Ajax is a good place for slots fans and electronic table players, while Woodbine is currently going through serious extension work and was reopened in 2022. Casino Woodbine currently counts more than 100 table games, over 2,900 slot machines, 250 e-tables and over 100 dealer assist stadium gaming options. The Noodle bar and the Hoofbeats Restaurant are also important attractions for guests. Casino Rama, with its resort-like settings, and the proximity of Canada's Wonderland, offers a complete package for casino lovers and family and friends alike.
The territory only has one land casino and it also happens to be the oldest casino in the country: Diamond Tooth Gertie’s. The venue has the Klondike theme and if you are all into the Gold Rush fever theme and are eager to watch some can-can shows in between rounds, this is it. The Yukon Lottery Corporation handles land venues in the Territory.
Other than this casino, there are no other permanent casinos allowed here, even though there are some temporary establishments that can be allowed to function for up to three days at a time. These temporary venues also require a license and they can only be run by charitable or religious organizations.
Red Shores Casino in Summerside (slots and VLTs) and Charlottetown (live table games) are the main gambling venues players can visit here. Both casinos are governed by the Lotteries Commission Act and the Gaming Centre Control Regulations issued in 2005. The Red Shores casino offers more than 200 slot machines and a number of thrilling live table games including baccarat, roulette, UTH or blackjack. You can also place horse race bets straight from your table inside one of the four dining locations with local foods on the island.
Saskatchewan hosts nine land venues and they are all regulated by the Liquor and Gaming Authority here, that closely follows the Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act. Sask Gaming is responsible for operating casinos Moose Jaw and Regina. The balance of these casinos is officially run by the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority.
Loto-Quebec is responsible for running the four casinos here, with the Salon de jeux de Quebec and Salon de jeux de Trois-Rivieres also providing slots or VLTs and a number of Sic Bo, Blackjack, Roulette or Baccarat electronic games. Casino de Montreal is one of the most popular, as well as largest land casinos in the country, hosting a gambling hall spread across five floors that can host more than 18,000 patrons a day. They provide over one hundred gaming tables and table games and slots and several gourmet restaurants offering top food.
At the moment, there are no brick-and-mortar casinos in Newfoundland and Labrador, as casino-related gambling is still outlawed in this province. However, charitable gaming, lotteries, horse races and video lottery terminals are all accepted here, according to the current provincial laws.
While Canada may not have the billion-dollar casinos you may be used to seeing in Las Vegas, Atlantic City or Macau, the country does have excellent offers in terms of entertainment and gaming, with just the right twist of Canadian personality and one-of-a-kind themes. The long, cold winters that the country deals with and the complicated logistics of having to travel long distances to reach a land casino might not always be worth it. This is why so many Canadians prefer online casinos for real money with top bonuses and thousands of games available 24/7. However, this is not to say a trip to a land casino every now and then is not worth it, as long as it can deliver what it promises! In the meanwhile, you can use our list of top real money casinos for Canadians and quench your thirst for quality gaming!
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