Casino de Montréal

The Casino de Montréal occupies the buildings France and Quebec put up for Expo 67 on Île Notre-Dame, and the architecture is the first thing anyone notices: an angular, multi-level interior with sightlines through five floors and views back across the water to the Montréal skyline. No purpose-built gaming hall in Canada looks remotely like it.

It is also one of the largest floors in the country — around 3,000 slot machines and 110 table games — which puts it in Fallsview's league on scale, in a building that was never designed for the purpose. The vertical layout takes some learning, and the upper levels are consistently quieter than the lower ones.

The catch, and the reason it sits at 8.0 rather than higher, is that there is no hotel. Montréal has one of the best hotel supplies in Canada ten minutes away across the bridge, so this is easily solved — but it means the property is an evening rather than a stay, and it is judged here as a casino hotel.

The slot floor is one of the two largest in Canada, with around 3,000 machines spread across the levels. The mix is current and broad, denominations run from a cent upward, and the progressive banks are well populated. The vertical arrangement means each level has its own character rather than presenting as one enormous hall.

Roughly 110 table games make this the third-deepest table floor in the country. Blackjack runs across a wide limit spread, both roulette formats are present, baccarat is well represented, and craps, pai gow and the carnival rotation all run. Professional dealers are technically excellent and bilingual throughout.

The poker room runs cash games and tournaments and is the main room in the city. The Salon Privé provides raised limits, dedicated service and 24/7 VIP attention through the Loto-Québec loyalty programme. A sportsbook area covers the main fixtures.

No rooms on site, and none planned. Île Notre-Dame is a park island with the casino, the Olympic rowing basin and the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on it, and nothing else — no accommodation, no restaurants beyond the property, no shops.

Downtown Montréal and Old Montréal are ten to fifteen minutes away by car or taxi, and the Jean-Drapeau metro station is a short walk with a shuttle in service at busy times. Given the quality and price range of Montréal hotels, this is a mild inconvenience rather than a real problem — but it does mean the property cannot deliver a casino hotel stay.

Several restaurants including a well-regarded signature room with a serious Quebec-focused kitchen, a buffet, a brasserie and bars across the levels. The signature restaurant has a real reputation in the city and is worth a booking on its own terms. Prices are Montréal prices, which is to say fair by Canadian standards.

A cabaret room programmes music and comedy in both languages, with a strong francophone calendar that no other Canadian casino offers. The property sits inside Parc Jean-Drapeau, which hosts major festivals through the summer, and the Formula 1 circuit is on the same island — race weekend transforms the whole area.