Casinos Edmonton Guide

As the capital city of Alberta, Edmonton has a long history as being one of Canada's most important cultural sites. From music to theatre, museums, and casinos, there's a lot to love in Canada's Festival City.

Breaking down a brief history of Edmonton's casino scene and some of its standout establishments, we at LeoVegas Ontario want to explore what exactly is on offer. Whether you're travelling or a permanent resident looking to stretch their legs and place some bets in new sites, here's everything you need to know.

Overview of Edmonton's Casino Scene

With a long history that makes up an important part of Canada's industrial and cultural scene, the city enjoys a strong legacy as a casino hotspot. The casinos in this city include a wide variety of different wagering options, including racetracks, slot machines, table games, and professional poker rooms.

These casinos are spread all over the city, though most reside on the north side of the dividing North Saskatchewan River. The largest of these establishments are open 24 hours a day and include attached resorts for players to stay, unwind, and try other entertainment activities.

Importance of Casinos in Edmonton's Entertainment Landscape

Edmonton's casino scene is just one part of the city's broad-reaching entertainment landscape. Here they help to round out other famous opportunities such as an expansive music scene, active nightlife, and Canada's largest living history museum.

Edmonton's first charitable casino officially arrived in 1967. This was built upon in 1975 with the opening of Edmonton’s first not-for-profit casino, setting the stage for a continuously growing industry.

These components combine today to contribute to a healthy entertainment landscape that caters to both locals and international travellers. Contributing to the local economy through tax and First Nations charities, casinos have become a key element of Alberta’s appeal.

History of Casinos in Edmonton

Early Beginnings

The first laws that made some forms of gambling legal in Alberta arrived in 1892 with the establishment of the Criminal Code of Alberta. This was then extended in 1910 when an amendment opened up games of chance provided the profit was used for charitable or religious purposes.

The last big step in the early beginnings occurred in the 1920s, when bingo became popular, and horse racing grew as a mainstream sport.

Development Over the Decades

Following the establishment of the Criminal Code of Canada, the first charitable casino opened in the 1960s. In the 1970s, lotteries arrived under provincial authority, with the first private casino opening in 1981.

In the following decades, VLT machines became popular, and the number of big casinos continued to grow. In the 1990s, online casinos arrived, operating alongside some of Edmonton’s most popular traditional casinos.

Key Milestones and Events

• 1882: Gambling is first made legal in Canada’s law.

• 1967: The first charitable casino opens in Edmonton’s annual fair.

• 1975: The first non-for-profit casino arrives.

• 1981: Alberta's second and Edmonton's first private casino opens.

• 1992: VLTs are introduced to Edmonton.

• 1999: The Ministry of Gambling is created to guide Alberta’s gambling scene.

Major Casinos in Edmonton

River Cree Resort and Casino

Location and Overview

Address: 300 East Lapotac Boulevard, Enoch, AB T7X 3Y3

Open 24 Hours

Phone: +1 780-484-2121

Gaming Options

River Cree includes all the big favourites in its lineup, with slots, poker, a players club, and 40 table games.

Dining and Amenities

Nine different restaurants and bars are available, including Italian and Chinese cuisines, burgers, and the ever-important Starbucks.

Special Events and Promotions

Venue capacities within River Cree include space for 500 to 2,500, depending on setup. Common shows include concerts, bare-knuckle fighting, spiritualists, and magicians.

Common promotions include poker tournaments, cash and prize giveaways, free blackjack play, and loyalty rewards.

Pure Casino Edmonton

Location and Overview

Address: 7055 Argyll Rd NW, Edmonton, AB T6C 4A5, Canada

Open 24 Hours

Phone: +1 780-463-9467

Gaming Options

Pure Casino focuses on slots, poker, and their lineup of 26 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and more.

Dining and Amenities

The four restaurants include two bars and special comfort food for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.

Special Events and Promotions

The special events in Pure Casino centre on the Social Room, which offers everything from cooking classes to free live music, and can even be booked for your special events. Promotions feature gift cards, travel giveaways, free spins in casino games, and poker tournaments, with new options rotating in.

Grand Villa Casino

Location and Overview

Address: 10204 104 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 0H6, Canada

Hours: 12 pm to 3 am daily

Phone: +1 780-413-3178

Gaming Options

Slots, table games, poker, and VIP rooms for high-limit gaming are available here.

Dining and Amenities

You’ll find two public restaurants and one private room for members.

Special Events and Promotions

The special events in the Grand Villa Casino include monthly promotions, slot tournaments, prize draws, happy hour, and free parking on non-event days. VIP members will also find discounts on food, points rewards, and free entry in additional monthly promotions.

Century Casino St. Albert

Location and Overview

Address: 24 Boudreau Rd, St. Albert, AB T8N 6K3, Canada

Open 9:30 am to 3 am Sunday to Thursday, 9:30 am to 4 am Friday and Saturday

Phone: +1 780-460-8092

Gaming Options

430+ slot games, and 10 table games including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and Texas Hold’em.

Dining and Amenities

18+ only restaurant and bar lounge plus a special mixology bar.

Special Events and Promotions

Entertainment at Century Casino is held for free every Friday and Saturday evening in the Vee lounge with live music from rock, country, and pop performers. Dining promotions are available, especially for VIP members, with special meals on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

Starlight Casino

Location and Overview

Address: 8882 170 St NW #2710, Edmonton, AB T5T 3J7, Canada

Open 9 am to 5 am daily

Phone: +1 780-444-2112

Gaming Options

Starlight Casino offers two floors for casino players to peruse. One is dedicated to a robust slot selection, while the other centres on table games like blackjack, roulette, and Texas Hold'em.

Dining and Amenities

There are five bars and restaurants to choose from, offering steak, seafood, noodles, and more.

Special Events and Promotions

Special events and promotions in Starlight Casino tend to revolve around VIP members, with offers like jackpot draws and free breakfasts. Opportunities available for everyone include slot tournaments and progressive prizes like cash, iPods, and PlayStation 5 systems.

Gaming Options Available

Slot Machines

• Popular Slot Games: Popular slot games in Edmonton include 88 Fortunes, Buffalo, Texas Tea, and Lion Dance.

• Progressive Jackpots: Some of the most famous progressive jackpot games in Edmonton include American Original, Alberta Gold, and Jackpot Junction.

Table Games

• Blackjack: Blackjack is a mainstay of most casinos in Edmonton, both in American and European variants. This classic title has you playing against the dealer to attain as close of a score to 21 as possible without going bust.

• Poker: One of the most well-loved head-to-head card games, poker variants and rooms are offered in most of Edmonton's casinos. You might even find tournaments to enter for huge potential prizes.

• Roulette: The classic wheel and ball game is another common feature of Edmonton casinos, with a variety of betting options for safe or high-roller play.

• Baccarat: James Bond’s favourite again is a popular choice in Edmonton, as players and the banker work to claim their victory in this worldwide hit.

Poker Rooms

• Tournaments: Edmonton is famous for a huge variety of poker tournaments for all tiers of play. In sites like Casino Dene, River Cree, and Pure Casino Edmonton, you can expect options for both high and low rollers.

• Cash Games: Cash games are another prolific option in Edmonton, found regularly in casinos like Casino Dene, Great Northern Casino, Rivers Casino, and River Cree Casino.

FAQs

What are the age requirements for entering casinos in Edmonton?

The casino laws in Edmonton have a minimum age requirement of 18 years, as established by Alberta’s greater gambling regulations. This is the same as the minimum gambling age elsewhere in Alberta.

Can tourists gamble in Edmonton casinos?

Yes, it is entirely legal for tourists to gamble in Edmonton casinos provided the tourists are of legal gambling age.

Are there non-smoking areas in the casinos?

Yes, all the major casinos offer smoke-free areas as standard, and some only have small areas available for smoking indoors.

What is the dress code for Edmonton casinos?

The dress code for Edmonton casinos will depend on the exact casino. General rules require wearing shirts, shoes, and trousers/pants at all times.

How can I join a casino's rewards program?

Different casinos offer different ways to connect to their rewards programs. Sometimes this can be accomplished via the casino’s official website or app, other times you can ask staff within the casino to be pointed to a desk where you can register for the rewards program.