Online casinos might be the go-to destination for modern gambles, but there's no doubt that brick-and-mortar casinos in Canada provide a unique gaming experience. From the riffling of chips to the blinking of neon lights, every live Canadian casino has something to offer in the way of profit and entertainment.
Aside from offering a slew of table games and slot machines, Canadian casinos are stocked with leisure facilities, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shopping malls. This ability to provide a complete entrainment experience for everyone - regardless of whether they are a professional or novice gambler - is something that makes brick-and-mortar casinos in Canada some of the best in the world.
Unsurprisingly located in Montreal, this casino is situated on Île Notre-Dame and first opened its doors in 1993. Since that time the casino has established itself as the biggest in Canada thanks to more than 150 gaming tables and 3,200+ slot machines running on a 24/7 basis.
Thanks to provincial laws, Casino de Montreal is a non-smoking facility and on top of its gaming areas the venue boasts three bars, four restaurants, conference facilities and an area for shows. The casino is owned by Société des casinos du Québec and one of its main talking points (aside from being the largest live casino in Canada) is its styling. Designed by Jean Ferguson, the imposing building is littered with windows and pitched with low ceilings making it one of the brightest casinos in the country.
Known colloquially as Fallsview Casino, this Ontario based venue is more than just a gaming destination. With more than 200,000 sq ft of gaming space, Fallsview Casino is able to house a slew of entertainment & leisure facilities such as a 374 room hotel, a number of convention halls, a health club, a shopping centre and nightclub, as well as a wedding chapel.
Beyond this Vegas-style infrastructure, Fallsview Casino has 100+ gaming tables and 3,000+ slot machines. There's also a bustling poker room that hosts major events such as World Poker Tour festivals.
The legal gambling age at Fallsview Casino is 19 and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation owned property is situated within sight of the world famous Horseshoe Falls.
Owned by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and operated by Caesars Entertainment, this casino is a slice of Las Vegas in Canada. Styled in the same way as Caesars Entertainment's famous Vegas venue, the Windsor comprises of accommodation and gaming facilities.
Indeed, since Caesars Windsor underwent a major renovation in 2007 the property has grown to become one of the most popular casinos in Canada and now serves millions of people a year. On top of offering almost 100,000 sq ft of gaming space, Caesars Windsor is home to Canada's first licensed sports book. Opened in 2006 and located inside the Legends Sports Bar, the betting facilities are some of the most expansive and popular in Canada.
Located just a stones through of Niagara Falls on the site of the former Maple Leaf Village, Casino Niagara may be smaller in size than some of its Canadian peers, but it's certainly no less important. Indeed, while it may not be able to offer as many gaming options as Fallsview or Casino de Montreal, this Ontario based venue has the advantage of sitting right next to one of the world's most famous waterfalls.
This attraction alone is enough to make it a "must see" destination for millions of travellers each year, allowing Casino Niagara to offer both gaming and sports betting provisions. On top of the 40 table games, this brick-and-mortar venue has more than 1,500 slot machines in operation as well as a sports book that can cater for more than 100 punters at once.
Despite being one of Canada's smaller live casinos, River Rock Casino resort is a popular destination for seasoned gamblers and Canadian poker players. Although the 70,000 sq ft gaming floor can't quite compete with some of the country's larger venues, the casino still welcomes more than 10,000 punters each day.
In total the Richmond based resort, which is owned by Great Canadian Gaming, has 396 hotel rooms as well as every variety of casino game imaginable, from blackjack and baccarat to craps and slots. Moreover, River Rock Casino has also been featured in numerous movies over the years thanks to its location in Vancouver.
Medicine Hat Lodge is home to one of Canada's premier casinos known as Casino by Vanshaw. Situated on the lodge grounds, the casino is sprawled out amongst 30,000 square feet of pure entertainment. Open 7 days a week from 10 am to 3 am, enthusiasts can take a spin on one of 339 different slot machines or join the screams and laughter on any of the nine different tables offering poker, craps, baccarat, blackjack, or roulette. While you're playing with lady luck, and hopefully winning, you can enjoy live entertainment and free coffee to keep you going throughout the night. Medicine Hat Lodge is family friendly and boasts an indoor waterslide park, a host of restaurants, convention center, spa and accommodation. It's not the largest casino in Canada, but most certainly has everything you could want from a live gambling environment.
The casinos on this page are just a small selection of those available across Canada, but we feel these are the ones that are most worth your time. If you're going to venture away from your smartphone casino play then it should be for a land based destination that offers the best gambling experience possible. Make sure to head for one that offers exactly what you want, whether that be poker rooms or rows upon rows of electronic roulette machines.