Frequently asked questions
The questions readers send us most often about visiting a casino hotel in Canada — and about how this publication works.
It depends on the province. Alberta, Quebec and Manitoba set the age at 18. Every other province, including Ontario and British Columbia, sets it at 19. The age applies to the gaming floor itself, not to the hotel, so a family can stay at a casino hotel with a nineteen-year-old age limit without difficulty — under-age guests simply cannot enter the gaming area. Photo identification is checked at the door on busy evenings at most properties.
No. Hotel Trails is an independent editorial publication. We do not operate, own or manage any casino, hotel or gambling facility, we do not take payment for coverage or for a higher score, and we do not accept hosted stays in exchange for a review. Our scores reflect our editorial assessment and nothing else.
No, and that is deliberate. This site publishes reviews, guides and reference information about casino hotels in Canada. It does not offer gaming of any kind, does not accept wagers, does not process payments and does not link visitors to gambling platforms. Everything here is informational.
Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls, for most people. It has the largest gaming floor in the country, the hotel and dining to support a two-night stay, and it sits above one of the world's best-known natural attractions — so a companion who has no interest in the casino floor still has a trip. If you are starting from the west coast, River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond is the equivalent answer.
Smart casual is the practical standard across the country, and it is loosely enforced on the main gaming floor. What is generally prohibited: beachwear, visible work clothing, offensive graphics and anything covering the face. High-limit salons and signature restaurants apply a stricter standard, and theatre nights see the whole property dress up noticeably. Nowhere in Canada requires a jacket on the main floor.
The spread is wide. A midweek room in Moncton, Winnipeg or Langley can be found under CAD 150. A Fallsview room in Niagara Falls on a July Saturday will pass CAD 450 for the same category of room you would pay CAD 180 for in February. Parking is frequently extra, resort fees appear at the larger properties, and dining at a destination resort is priced accordingly. Our reviews flag the seasonal swing for each property.
Often, yes — with one condition. The hotel, pool, restaurants and event spaces are open to all ages at every property we review; only the gaming floor is restricted. The condition is layout: at some properties the route from the lobby to the lifts crosses the edge of the gaming floor. Where that is the case, our review says so.
A high-limit salon is a separate room with higher table minimums, higher-denomination slot machines, its own cage and, at the larger properties, dedicated hosts and 24/7 VIP service. Access is generally open to anyone prepared to play at the posted limits, though the full service tier is tied to a property's loyalty programme. There is no membership fee and no invitation required simply to enter and play.
No, but the card is free and it is usually the mechanism by which parking validation, dining discounts and room offers are applied. Joining means handing over your identification and contact details, which is a privacy decision worth making consciously. Nothing on the gaming floor requires it.
Support is free and confidential across Canada. ConnexOntario operates a 24-hour line at 1-866-531-2600. The Responsible Gambling Council publishes national resources at responsiblegambling.org. In British Columbia, GameSense operates advisory desks on casino floors as well as an online service. Every province runs a self-exclusion programme through its regulator. Our Responsible Gaming page lists the provincial contacts in full.
Still looking?
The planning guide covers ages, dress codes, budgets and etiquette in full, and the games guide explains everything on the floor.
Ask us directly
Reader questions go to the same desk as everything else and we answer them. Use the contact form and pick "Reader question".
Need support?
Free and confidential help is available in every province. See Responsible Gaming, or call ConnexOntario on 1-866-531-2600.