Casinos In Ontario
Ontario's premier land-based gaming industry spans 29 municipalities hosting world-class casinos, alongside a high-tech network of community-focused Charitable Gaming Centres. From the province's historic 1994 waterfront roots to multi-million-dollar modern resorts, Ontario's gaming industry is a major driver of regional tourism, hospitality, and employment.
The Milestones of Ontario Gaming
The 1994 Windsor Launch: Commercial gaming officially began with the opening of a temporary facility for Casino Windsor on May 17, 1994. To manage massive overflow crowds, a secondary riverboat facility named The Northern Belle launched in December 1995. Both installations successfully sustained high-volume play until operations consolidated into the permanent Caesars Windsor resort on July 29, 1998.- First Nations Heritage & Casino Rama: Ontario's first land-based commercial resort outside a border city, Casino Rama, opened on July 31, 1996, on the lands of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation. Standing as a hallmark of Indigenous economic development, it shares its First Nations heritage with the Great Blue Heron Casino (Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation) and Kenora's Golden Eagle Building (Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation), which is undergoing structural reconstruction for a future Gateway Casinos venue.
Widespread Portfolios & Operators
Ontario's land-based facilities are managed by premier entertainment providers on behalf of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG):
- Great Canadian Entertainment: Operates 12 prominent venues, including the country's largest property—the 328,000-square-foot Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto—along with Great Canadian Pickering, Casino Ajax, Great Blue Heron Casino, Elements Casinos, and Shorelines locations.
- Gateway Casinos & Entertainment: Manages a widespread 14-property community portfolio across the province under its signature Gateway, Starlight, Playtime, and Cascades brands.
- Caesars Entertainment: Operates the landmark Caesars Windsor border resort, sustaining its position as a pillar of the Windsor-Essex regional economy and a premier international destination.
- Mohegan Gaming: Manages Niagara’s premier twin waterfront destinations, the world-class Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara.
- Hard Rock International: Operates the newly completed Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa. Following its grand opening on July 3, 2025, the destination finished a multi-year transition from the legacy Rideau Carleton site into a fully integrated resort, retiring live harness racing in early 2026 to focus entirely on elite hospitality and gaming.
Charitable cGaming: Driving Local Impact
Beyond major commercial resorts, Ontario features 37 modern Charitable Gaming (cGaming) Centres in partnership with the OLG and the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association (OCGA). Traditional bingo halls have been upgraded to high-tech entertainment hubs featuring eBingo, TAP 'N PLAY digital cabinets, and Play On Demand (POD) terminals.
The sector is driven by premier, regulatory-compliant operators that specialize in fundraising for local municipalities and community groups:
- Casino Time: A proudly Canadian, multi-channel pioneer in the Ontario market. They seamlessly connect the physical and digital gaming spaces, anchoring 11 regional land-based gaming entertainment centres across the province—including prominent hubs like Jackpot Time, Power Play Gaming, and Community Spirit—while offering a fully regulated, community-first online igaming platform.
- Delta Bingo & Gaming: A foundational leader in Ontario charitable entertainment, operating 18 premier physical cGaming locations across the province—including major hubs like Downsview, Etobicoke, and Oakville—while driving extensive regional economic impact by partnering directly with hundreds of local charities.
- Rama Gaming House: A high-volume operator driving urban community benefits. They anchor major full-service gaming entertainment centres in the key regional hubs of Mississauga and Scarborough, pairing progressive digital touchscreen layouts with premium hospitality.
- Dolphin Bingo (Dolphin Gaming): A landmark independent venue situated in the heart of Scarborough. Known for its modern facility floor, the operation bridges legacy community entertainment with electronic cabinet gaming, generating direct funding lines to local non-profit groups.
Must be 19+ to play. If you or someone you know is looking for helpful tools, resources, and support to keep it fun, visit our Smarter Play page.
Know your limit, play within it.
Dame Lucky is an independent media platform providing educational reviews - AGCO License Number: NGRS 1544228.
Official Sources: 1. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) | 2. Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) | 3. Ontario Charitable Gaming Association (OCGA)
Ontario's premier land-based gaming industry spans 29 municipalities hosting world-class casinos, alongside a high-tech network of community-focused Charitable Gaming Centres. From the province's historic 1994 waterfront roots to multi-million-dollar modern resorts, Ontario's gaming industry is a major driver of regional tourism, hospitality, and employment.
The Milestones of Ontario Gaming
The 1994 Windsor Launch: Commercial gaming officially began with the opening of a temporary facility for Casino Windsor on May 17, 1994. To manage massive overflow crowds, a secondary riverboat facility named The Northern Belle launched in December 1995. Both installations successfully sustained high-volume play until operations consolidated into the permanent Caesars Windsor resort on July 29, 1998.- First Nations Heritage & Casino Rama: Ontario's first land-based commercial resort outside a border city, Casino Rama, opened on July 31, 1996, on the lands of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation. Standing as a hallmark of Indigenous economic development, it shares its First Nations heritage with the Great Blue Heron Casino (Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation) and Kenora's Golden Eagle Building (Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation), which is undergoing structural reconstruction for a future Gateway Casinos venue.
Widespread Portfolios & Operators
Ontario's land-based facilities are managed by premier entertainment providers on behalf of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG):
- Great Canadian Entertainment: Operates 12 prominent venues, including the country's largest property—the 328,000-square-foot Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto—along with Great Canadian Pickering, Casino Ajax, Great Blue Heron Casino, Elements Casinos, and Shorelines locations.
- Gateway Casinos & Entertainment: Manages a widespread 14-property community portfolio across the province under its signature Gateway, Starlight, Playtime, and Cascades brands.
- Caesars Entertainment: Operates the landmark Caesars Windsor border resort, sustaining its position as a pillar of the Windsor-Essex regional economy and a premier international destination.
- Mohegan Gaming: Manages Niagara’s premier twin waterfront destinations, the world-class Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara.
- Hard Rock International: Operates the newly completed Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa. Following its grand opening on July 3, 2025, the destination finished a multi-year transition from the legacy Rideau Carleton site into a fully integrated resort, retiring live harness racing in early 2026 to focus entirely on elite hospitality and gaming.
Charitable cGaming: Driving Local Impact
Beyond major commercial resorts, Ontario features 37 modern Charitable Gaming (cGaming) Centres in partnership with the OLG and the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association (OCGA). Traditional bingo halls have been upgraded to high-tech entertainment hubs featuring eBingo, TAP 'N PLAY digital cabinets, and Play On Demand (POD) terminals.
The sector is driven by premier, regulatory-compliant operators that specialize in fundraising for local municipalities and community groups:
- Casino Time: A proudly Canadian, multi-channel pioneer in the Ontario market. They seamlessly connect the physical and digital gaming spaces, anchoring 11 regional land-based gaming entertainment centres across the province—including prominent hubs like Jackpot Time, Power Play Gaming, and Community Spirit—while offering a fully regulated, community-first online igaming platform.
- Delta Bingo & Gaming: A foundational leader in Ontario charitable entertainment, operating 18 premier physical cGaming locations across the province—including major hubs like Downsview, Etobicoke, and Oakville—while driving extensive regional economic impact by partnering directly with hundreds of local charities.
- Rama Gaming House: A high-volume operator driving urban community benefits. They anchor major full-service gaming entertainment centres in the key regional hubs of Mississauga and Scarborough, pairing progressive digital touchscreen layouts with premium hospitality.
- Dolphin Bingo (Dolphin Gaming): A landmark independent venue situated in the heart of Scarborough. Known for its modern facility floor, the operation bridges legacy community entertainment with electronic cabinet gaming, generating direct funding lines to local non-profit groups.
Must be 19+ to play. If you or someone you know is looking for helpful tools, resources, and support to keep it fun, visit our Smarter Play page.
Know your limit, play within it.
Dame Lucky is an independent media platform providing educational reviews - AGCO License Number: NGRS 1544228.
Official Sources: 1. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) | 2. Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) | 3. Ontario Charitable Gaming Association (OCGA)
