Montreal Casinos Guide

This Montreal casinos guide will show you how gambling makes up an important part of the city’s vibrant nightlife. The leading gambling locations in Montreal give locals and visitors a chance to play a variety of games like slots, poker, and roulette in a safe setting.

Table of Content:

• History of Casinos in Montreal
• Top Casinos in Montreal
  • Montreal Casino
• Casino Games and Entertainment
• FAQs

With around seven million visitors each year, the Montreal Casino (Casino de Montréal) is Canada’s biggest casino. It generates a huge amount of revenue for the Government of Quebec as well as giving an attractive entertainment option. It’s not just limited to gambling, as you can also see comedy shows, listen to live music, and attend other entertainment events here.

History of Casinos in Montreal

While some forms of gambling existed in Canada before the 18th century, the massive influx of European settlers at this time changed the scene as they brought new games with them. As Montreal grew in the 19th century, gambling became a hugely popular activity but it was still unregulated.

In 1882, Father Antoine Labelle established a new national lottery fund that was designed to help the Société de colonisation du diocèse de Montréal's attempts to grow the city as a French colony. Despite the project being rejected by the Legislative Council, the first lottery draw took place a couple of years later and set the scene for later gambling legislation in the city.

The first moves to control the gambling scene in Canada came with the 1892 legislation that banned all types of betting. However, legal gambling was slowly re-introduced during the 20th century. Legal lottery gambling was finally approved in 1969 and the Quebec government then created the Quebec Alcohol, Racing, and Gaming Commission (RACJ) in the 1980s to regulate this industry. This allowed the safe and controlled expansion of gambling activities in Montreal with licenses given to reputable operators in the city.

The Société des casinos du Québec was formed in 1992 and a year later it oversaw the opening of the Montreal Casino, which cost $95m CAD to build on the site of the Expo 67. It was an immediate success and was quickly expanded before becoming a 24-hour operation and introducing new ways of playing with the latest technology.

Slot machines reached Montreal in 1994, giving players a new electronic gambling option that immediately proved to be popular. Online gambling was made legal in 2010, providing residents the chance to play a huge range of slot and table games conveniently. As technology has advanced, live casino games have introduced a new way of playing by live-streaming dealers from a casino setting to the players’ laptop or mobile device.

Top Casinos in Montreal

Montreal Casino

This casino is located at 1 Avenue Du Casino on Notre Dame Island in Jean-Drapeau Park. It’s easily accessible by car over the De la Concorde bridge or by public transport. For example, the 777 bus travels here regularly from the Jean-Drapeau metro station and Bonaventure station.

The history of this casino began in 1992 when the Société des casinos du Québec was given the mission to build casinos in Montreal. This was the first location they decided upon, with a $95m CAD investment, to replace the Palais des civilisations that were on the site of what had previously been the Quebec Pavilion at Expo 67. A bridgeway was built to connect this area with the space in the France pavilion, creating a large casino that spanned both buildings.

It was successful immediately, attracting thousands of players keen to try their games and sample the atmosphere in the weeks after it was officially opened. The first year saw 780,000 people visit Montreal Casino and it was soon employing around 700 workers.

By 1993, it had been successful enough to warrant the first major expansion. This was followed in 1997 by the move to 24-hour operations, with players now able to visit at any time of day or night. 2013 brought Montreal Casino's second big renovation, as the gaming areas were brought up to date with modern technology. As part of this, the huge digital wall that covers three floors was added with The Zone arriving in the same year.

As Canada’s biggest casino, it now offers a huge variety of games over three interconnected buildings. Over 3,000 slot machines take pride of place while there are electronic table games as well as classic table games such as roulette, poker variants, and blackjack. Progressive jackpots can be won on some of the games, with a variety of popular theme slots making this an attractive part of the casino.

There are several options for getting some food at this casino. Le Montréal, Pavillon 67, L’Instant, and Montreal Casino’s outdoor patio bar all provide different experiences when you want a meal or a snack between games. The patio bar has live music on the weekends and an interesting menu with an urban food selection, adding to a vibrant atmosphere in this outdoor spot.

This casino has also become an entertainment hub for the city, with the Cabaret du Casino offering a variety of shows throughout the year. You can catch some stand-up comedy here or watch one of the live rock shows they have lined up in the coming months. The convenient location means that it's an attractive option for residents and tourists visiting the city alike.

Casino Games and Entertainment

Slot machines are as popular in Montreal as they are in other gambling destinations, with the simple, fast gameplay proving to be popular with many types of players. The Montreal Casino has the biggest and most diverse selection of slots in Quebec, with new releases sitting alongside classic slots that have stood the test of time.

Big Hot Flaming Pots™ Delicious Delights, Mystery of the Lamp™, and Buffalo Power Pay™ are among the popular titles in the Casino de Montreal. These games of chance can be played with a minimum bet of $1 CAD, or lower in some cases.

Some slots have big progressive jackpots that are either triggered randomly or by playing a bonus round. Powerbuck$, Cash Spin, and Quick Hits Wild Blue Jackpot are among the jackpot titles they currently have in their lobby. Mystery slot prizes of up to $250,000 CAD are mentioned on the casino's website.

Poker can be played in various ways, with the OK Poker Room at the Montreal Casino having 12 No-Limit Texas Hold’em tables. 3 Card Poker and Mississippi Stud Poker are other ways of playing this game here. The minimum bet in the OK Poker Room is listed as $1 CAD and they often have special bonuses like bad beat jackpots and cash prizes for bonus hands.

Alternative table games including roulette, blackjack, and baccarat are also available at Montreal Casino. You can choose between an electronic table game and a live game with a human dealer.

Their sports betting terminals located near the poker room allow you to bet on the big upcoming games. You can also watch the live sports action on the big screens in the OK Poker Room or the Le Roi bar.

The ARcade section provides a different way of playing, as augmented reality technology is used to project video games onto the floor in this zone. There are two play areas with six games to choose from. Groups of four or more can hire a space in this section from half an hour upwards.

Many different shows are held in places such as the Cabaret du Casino, where stand-up comedy, boxing, and live music are all available at different times. Live music and DJs can be heard at the Valet Bar too, where the 21-meter multimedia wall helps to bring the action to life.

FAQs

Does Montreal, Canada, have a casino?

Yes, the Montreal Casino is the largest gambling establishment in Canada. It offers a vast range of slots and table games as well as alternative types of entertainment, like live music, comedy nights, and sports betting. This huge casino also has a variety of dining options.

Why is Casino Montréal closed?

The Montreal Casino is open as normal at the time of writing. Opening hours are Sunday to Thursday between 9am and 3am. On Fridays and Saturdays, it’s open from 9am to 5am. It opens on statutory holidays too. Admission is restricted to visitors aged 18 or above and ID may be requested upon entry.

Can you wear jeans at the Montreal casino?

Yes. The FAQ section on the Montreal Casino site confirms that all visitors need to wear appropriate attire. This means that any clothing “of a violent nature” or that is “associated with an organization known to be violent” isn’t accepted here. Apart from that, no specific dress requirements or restrictions are listed.

Does the Montreal Casino give free drinks?

Non-alcoholic drinks such as soda, tea, and coffee are free from the casino’s numerous self-serve stands. Alcoholic drinks can be bought from several locations in the casino but aren't generally offered for free to players.