Casinos in Manitoba Guide

Manitoba casinos range from extensive, Vegas-style gaming venues to more close-knit venues offering fewer games and a cozier atmosphere. No matter what type of casino or gambling atmosphere you prefer, you’ll be able to find it in the province. The biggest two are located in Winnipeg and are owned and operated by Manitoba. The other six are owned by the First Nations, and their offerings vary.

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries reported that $597.8 million was earned for the province in the 2021/22 accounting year alone. The core mandate of the government is that profits stay in Manitoba and support key provincial programs, and that’s exactly what they do.

Table of Contents:

• History of Casinos in Manitoba
  • Beginnings
  • Major Milestones
  • Evolution Through the Decades
• First Nations Casinos
  • Aseneskak Casino
  • Niichi Gaming and Leisure Centre
  • South Beach Casino and Resort
  • Sand Hills Casino
  • Swan Lake First Nation Gaming Centre
• Winnipeg Casinos
  • Club Regent Casino
  • McPhillips Station Casino
• Casino Games and Entertainment Options
  • Table Games
  • Slot Machines
  • Specialty Games
  • Live Entertainment
• FAQs

Here is an overview of gambling in Manitoba, with a look at the many Manitoba casinos you can visit around the province. We'll explore what games are on offer, the dining choices and live entertainment available at each venue, and more.

History of Casinos in Manitoba

Beginnings

Manitoba’s general governing body of gambling, the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation, dates back to 1923, when it focused on liquor control. In 1984, the Manitoba Lotteries Foundation ran the casinos, bingo, and lotteries of the province. It opened Crystal Casino in the Hotel Fort Garry in 1989 before the next major move.

Major Milestones

In 1993, the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation was founded from the Lotteries Foundation and became a crown corporation. It was given governance over all gambling and was named the sole operator of Club Regent Casino and McPhillips Station Casino in Manitoba. In 2002, the first of the First Nations casinos opened in the form of Aseneskak Casino.

Evolution Through the Decades

After Aseneskak Casino arrived, it didn’t take long for other First Nations casinos to pop up. In 2005, South Beach Casino opened its doors. In 2014, Sand Hills Casino became Manitoba’s third First Nations venue, and since then, three more sites have opened and remained in operation through 2024.

First Nations Casinos

Most of the casinos in Manitoba are owned by the First Nations. Six of the eight come under First Nations ownership, and across them, you’ll find everything from focused bingo experiences all the way to more comprehensive casino and resort offerings.

Aseneskak Casino

Featuring a collection of more than 150 slot machines that range from retro one-armed bandits to modern officially licensed branded slots, the small but buzzing Aseneskak Casino certainly offers a lot of gaming for its size. You’ll find a few live table games of blackjack and Let It Ride, along with the High Roller Restaurant and Lounge that’s regularly switching up its seasonal menu. You’ll find this charming Manitoba casino on Highway 10 North in Opaskwayak.

Recently, the Aseneskak Casino underwent a big redesign and introduced a whole host of new gaming machines in hopes of blurring the lines between Manitoba casino play and gaming in Vegas.

Niichi Gaming and Leisure Centre

The Niichi Gaming and Leisure Centre is a very bingo-centric Manitoba casino venue. Located on Highway 201 in Ginew, you’ll be met by a friendly, communal atmosphere, ongoing bingo games, and several video lottery terminals so you can play at your own pace. You can also get food on site if you’re looking to stick around for bingo, attend a special bingo event, or participate in one of their silent auctions.

South Beach Casino and Resort

South Beach Casino and Resort offers a good selection of table games that includes double-deck blackjack, roulette, and Texas Shootout, but the biggest selling point of the Manitoba casino is its range of slots. There are more than 550 slot machines on the gaming floor, giving you ways to play the games of some of the world’s top slot providers, including IGT and Konami.

As both a casino and resort, South Beach also features a hotel with stay packages for casino players, along with some popular bars and restaurants. Mango’s is your classic restaurant, while the Blue Dolphin is more of a sports bar with live music. There’s also The Palms, which offers up dinner buffets on Fridays and Saturdays. Found at 1 Ocean Drive in Scanterbury, it is worth checking for live events or some promotions when deciding when to book.

Sand Hills Casino

The Sand Hills Casino has earned a reputation for its regular promotions and bonuses that range from Happy Hour promotions throughout the week to a rewarding loyalty program and free play boosts. One of its biggest selling points, however, is its selection of table games. You can play live roulette and live blackjack at Sand Hills Casino, in addition to spinning one of the 300 slot machines. You’ll also get to enjoy free live music at the Oasis Bar and Grill on site every Friday and Saturday. You can find Sand Hills Casino at 777 Sand Hills Drive in Carberry.

Swan Lake First Nation Gaming Centre

The Swan Lake First Nation hosts two gaming centres that feature video lottery terminals. At Swan Lake Gaming Centre #7, you’ll find bingo on Wednesday and Friday evenings and 30 video lottery terminals. Over at 4818 Portage Avenue in Headingley, Gaming Centre #8a also has 30 video lottery terminals to play.

Winnipeg Casinos

Both of the Winnipeg casinos are owned and operated by Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, and the two have similarly expansive offerings. You’ll find table games, more than 1,000 slot games, and a whole host of electronic terminals. You get specialty game rooms, including bingo, live table games, and even some top-class places to eat, drink, and watch a live performance.

Club Regent Casino

The Club Regent Casino is arguably the most all-encompassing gaming and entertainment venue Manitoba has to offer. The number of slots available exceeds 1,200, there are plenty of live table games playing classic casino games and popular variants, there are games linked to progressive jackpots, and there’s even daily bingo.

Away from the casino floor, you may also be visiting Club Regent for its Event Centre. This is where you’ll get to enjoy a stellar line-up of live performances and concerts. When you need to refill or unwind, you’ve got a choice of Toukies Restaurant and Bar, the Centre Bar, the Ice Cream Shoppe, and the outdoor Banyan Bar. You can find the venue at 1425 Regent Avenue West in Winnipeg.

McPhillips Station Casino

Located at 484 McPhillips Street in Winnipeg, the McPhillips Station Casino has become one of the most popular in Manitoba. In addition to the extensive gaming floor that has everything from blackjack, baccarat, and roulette to bingo, slots, and video poker, you can enjoy a great meal out, grab some snacks, or relax at the bar.

Loft 180 is the casino’s premier eatery, featuring an à la carte menu and local craft drinks. You can also visit the Floor Bar for a quick refresher or the Mainstage for a music event. If you check the listings, you’re bound to spot a big promotion or tournament quickly approaching.

Casino Games and Entertainment Options

Club Regent Casino and McPhillips Station Casino offer the most extensive casino gaming options in the province, along with stacked additional entertainment options. You’ll find several luxury table games, more than 1,200 slot machines, ways to play for the $1 million Powerbucks progressive jackpot, and many bingo rooms, specialty games, and electronic terminals. Both feature a collection of dining and bar options, and there is often a weekend slate of live performances. Club Regent even has its own Event Centre for big occasions.

Table Games

At many of the Manitoba casinos, particularly those in Winnipeg, you’ll be able to play live table games run by professional croupiers and stadium gaming. These are the new forms of electronic table games where players can go at their own pace on their own tables.

Live table games will have a smaller window of operation because a croupier needs to be at the table to run the show. However, you’ll be able to find games such as Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Squeeze Baccarat, roulette, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, EZ Baccarat, blackjack, Double-Deck Blackjack, and Midi Baccarat.

You’ll also find casino poker tables at some of the casinos in Manitoba – again, predominantly at those in Winnipeg – but competitive poker rooms are quite difficult to find in the province’s casinos. There used to be live poker at a few of the First Nations venues and Club Regent Casino had a popular poker scene, but they’re gone now.

Slot Machines

Given the popularity of online slots, it’s not a surprise that all of the Manitoba casinos excel when it comes to slot machine collections. You’ll find video slots, classic three-reel slots, one-arm bandits, officially licensed branded slots, and even those linked to progressive jackpots.

You’ll find a whole host of famed classics, popular modern slots, and the newest releases at the casinos Manitoba hosts. These include 88 Fortunes, Dragon Link, the Wheel of Fortune series of slots, the Buffalo slots, Dancing Drums, Ultra Hot Mega Link, Wizard of Oz Munchkinland, Larry’s Loot Lobstermania, and branded slots.

Specialty Games

The famous low-stakes lottery game bingo and its cousin, keno, are found in abundance across the many casinos in Manitoba. Niichi Oasis Gaming Centre stands out among the First Nations venues for its collection of video lottery terminals and bingo games, while both of the major Winnipeg casinos (McPhillips Station Casino and Club Regent Casino) feature live bingo sessions throughout the week in the form of Sunrise, Sunset, Matinee, and Evening Bingo. You’ll also find video poker, electronic bingo, keno, and video keno in these venues.

Live Entertainment

Most Manitoba casinos host their own special and community-driven events throughout the year, and those with extra entertainment rooms regularly host live acts ranging from musicians to variety performances.

For concerts and shows, look to the Mainstage and Loft 180 at McPhillips Station Casino, Club Regent Casino’s extensive set of live music and musicals, and the regular Friday, Saturday, or Sunday slate for live music events at South Beach Casino and Resort. It’s also worth taking a look at the weekly event schedule at Niichi Oasis Gaming Centre for other special events on the horizon.

FAQs

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about casinos in Manitoba.

Does Manitoba Have Casinos?

Manitoba has several casinos. There are six First Nations casinos that stand in Opaskwayak, Ginew, Scanterbury, Carberry, and Swan Lake. The two non-native casinos run by Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries are found in Winnipeg.

Who Owns Casinos in Manitoba?

Six casinos in Manitoba are owned by the First Nations, one of which – the Aseneskak Casino – is owned in a partnership between the Chemawawin Cree Nation, Misipawistik Cree Nation, Mosakahiken Cree Nation, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, and Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation. The two casinos found in Winnipeg (Club Regent Casino and McPhillips Station Casino) are owned and operated by Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.

How Many Slot Machines Does McPhillips Casino Have?

There are roughly 1,200 slot machines at McPhillips Station Casino, including video and reel slot machines, progressive slots, and electronic slot games via electronic bingo machines. There are multi-denomination machines and those that range from penny slots up to $100 high-roller slots.

When Did South Beach Casino Open?

South Beach Casino and Resort opened on May 28, 2005, in its current location on Manitoba Highway 59 to the northeast of the city of Winnipeg.

Are There Any Dress Codes for Entering Casinos in Manitoba?

There isn’t a strict or formalized dress code for entering casinos in Manitoba. As a general rule, casual attire is accepted, but you should avoid wearing any articles of clothing that could be deemed gang-related, violent, threatening, or offensive in any other way.