Calgary Casinos Guide: Where and What to Play
Casinos have played an important role in the Calgary entertainment scene for many years. With several locations in the city to gamble on slots and table games, this is a popular activity among locals and visitors, generating a lot of employment and tax revenue. Find out what you need to know before you start playing in this guide.
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History of Casinos in Calgary
Gambling has a long history in Canada, starting with the games of chance and racing carried out by some of the indigenous cultures. The arrival of European settlers introduced new card games, horse racing, roulette, and other ways of betting.
Gambling was prevalent across Canada by the 19th century, with Calgary among the Canadian cities starting to grow and prosper towards the end of that century. 1892 saw The Criminal Code of Canada amended, bringing in the country’s first gambling regulations to ensure that the activity was carried out in a controlled manner.
The gambling laws in the country and province have been changed several times since then, with pari-mutuel betting and charitable games of chance among the earliest types of gambling to be permitted. It was 1967 before the first charitable casino opened here, with a temporary setup at Edmonton’s annual fair including popular table games. Lotteries and sweepstakes were allowed a couple of years later, with bingo following this. The first permanent charitable casino opened in the city in 1980.
Slot machines arrived at the charitable casinos in Alberta in the 1990s. Since then, we‘ve seen many land venues open in the province, with the selection of games growing and evolving over time too. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) issues licenses in the province and while PlayAlberta is the only online site they’ve authorized, it’s possible to play online using offshore casinos if you prefer.
Major Casinos in Calgary
Choose from several excellent Calgary casinos when you want to head out to play some games in a relaxed yet professional setting. The following locations all have a strong reputation for offering a great time playing slots or table games. Many of them also have additional types of entertainment such as live music or comedy.
Deerfoot Inn and Casino
Located at 35 Street SE Calgary, this complex has a well-stocked casino where you’ll find 750+ slot machines, a poker room, and 30+ table games. There are high-limit options for high rollers in the Fortune Room.
Dining options include the Wild Horse Pub, the Sushi Bar, the Island Bar, and the Wild Horse Cafe. Their hotel has 188 rooms of different types, with amenities like a fitness centre and water park for guests to visit. Entertainment options such as music concerts and comedy nights are regularly programmed.
Cowboys Casino
You’ll find this interesting casino at 421 12 Avenue SE Calgary. It offers poker 24/7 in a dedicated room as well as 370+ slot machines and 30+ table games. VIPs might decide to play in the private high-limit lounge, while there’s also a digital gaming pit.
Food options include Centre Bar and Eatery, Hitman’s Bar and Melrose. Cowboys Dance Hall is the place for parties and great music. It gets particularly lively during the Calgary Stampede, with its convenient location making it a big part of this annual celebration.
Grey Eagle Resort & Casino
This resort’s website has detailed instructions to help you get to their location at 3777 Grey Eagle Drive, Tsuut’ina, from any direction. The casino offers almost 1,000 slots 24/7 in an 84,000 square feet space. 30+ gambling tables, electronic games, and 6 poker tables make up the rest of the action.
If you plan to eat between bets at Grey Eagle Resort, you might like the buffet restaurant, while Blaze Bar & Grill and Stage Bar are other places to grab some food before your next game. The hotel has standard and premium rooms, with a presidential suite the biggest at 1,000 square feet. Their event centre has a wide range of shows for every taste, including rock concerts.
Pure Casino Calgary
Head to 1420 Meridian Rd NE, Calgary to find this large casino where you can play 850+ slots and poker 24/7. Roulette, blackjack, and baccarat are among the other gambling games you can try here. You could aim to win progressive jackpots on the slots or try the VIP gaming lounge.
You’ll find music and other shows at Meridian Central Station. There’s an extensive selection of eateries to choose from, with a special poker menu for anyone who loves that card game and good food.
Elbow River Casino
The Elbow River Casino is a long-established entertainment venue situated at 218 18 Avenue SE Calgary. It uses Alberta’s charitable gaming model to generate funds for good causes and is a local entertainment hub in the Red Mile district.
Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club provides the laughs while there are three places you can choose from when it’s time to eat. You can listen to live music on the weekends, while progressive jackpot slots and poker are among the top gaming options.
Casino Games in Calgary
Slot Machines
Slots are hugely popular online and in Calgary casinos, with many featuring progressive jackpots that climb to impressively high amounts. These are simple games of chance but the addition of interesting themes keeps them different from one another
Popular slots in Calgary include Alberta Gold, American Original, and Jackpot Junction. With the biggest casinos having hundreds of machines, finding one that fits your needs should be easy.
Table Games
Baccarat is usually also played in these casinos, offering a fast and simple card game where you decide whether the banker or the player will win, or if it will end in a tie. You might want to learn basic blackjack strategy before you take a seat at any of the city’s blackjack tables, to make sure you know how the game works.
Roulette is also widely played here, with a variety of limits at different tables to suit every kind of player. Learning about the different bet types and the amount they return when successful is a great first step when you want to play roulette. If you want to go more in-depth, you could learn about progressive betting systems.
Poker Rooms
It’s easy to see how popular poker is here, with some casinos in Calgary having dedicated poker rooms. Texas Hold’em and Omaha are the most common poker games, but you’ll find a variety of other poker games to try too.
The poker rooms have long hours, with some of them open 24/7 to let you find a time to play that suits your lifestyle. Look out for bad beat jackpots and poker tournaments where you can test your skills in a competitive environment.
FAQs
Does Calgary have a casino?
Yes, there are several long-established and reliable casinos in and around Calgary, such as the Elbow River Casino, Pure Casino Calgary, and Cowboys Casino.
What casino is between Calgary and Canmore?
The Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino is in Kananaskis, which is 30 minutes west of Calgary on the route to Canmore.
What is the oldest casino in Calgary?
Cash Casino opened in 1980 as the first permanent charitable casino in the city. Only temporary casinos had existed before then.
What is the legal gambling age in Calgary?
Alberta’s gambling regulations state that you need to be aged 18 or older to gamble. This requirement is strictly enforced in all of the province’s casinos including those in the Calgary area.
Are Calgary casinos open 24/7?
Some of the casinos in Calgary are open 24/7, but you might be restricted to certain games like slots and poker rooms at night as table games are subject to tighter regulations at this time. Check the website of the casino you plan to visit and you’ll see the operating hours for each of their games and rooms.
What types of identification are required for entry?
You’ll be asked to show proof of age before entering a casino and starting to gamble. The safest move is to take a government-issued form of ID with your photo on it.
How can I join a loyalty program at a Calgary casino?
Ask at the front desk if they have a loyalty program, or check their website for details. Not all casinos offer this type of scheme while others have a loyalty program but don’t advertise it heavily.
Can I play casino games online in Calgary?
Yes, you can play online at Play Alberta or choose offshore casinos. Always look for a reputable online casino that is licensed by one of the leading regulatory authorities and has received good reviews.
What is the dress code for Calgary casinos?
Each casino decides whether to set a dress code. For example, Cowboys Dance Hall has a list of banned items like helmets and balaclavas. Generally, you can wear casual clothes during the day but something more formal is preferred in the evening. Check if the casino has a formal dress code before going there, to avoid any inconvenience.