Section · 11–14

Casino Hotels 4

Four hotels and resorts in Canada, in the guide for the same reason as everything else: a construction you can describe and a clear reason for standing exactly there. One occupies pavilions built for a world exposition; another is cut into the escarpment above a gorge; a third sits on a river arm with its own marina; the fourth stands in forest beside a lake. The gaming floor is not described and not assessed.

An ornate hotel-ratings plaque in bronze, copper and jewel tones.

Casinos are for adults only. In Canada the minimum age is 19 in most provinces and 18 in Québec; elsewhere it depends on where you are.

Materials on this page

TIMBER 2 STONE 2 GLASS 4 STEEL 1 CONCRETE 3

Île Notre-Dame, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Montreal Casino & Hotel

Made of

CONCRETE GLASS STEEL

The fabric

Pavilions built for Expo 67 make the core of the complex, and their shape survived the conversion. Concrete forms the structure and the sloped external walls, while glass fills the angled facets that made the French pavilion recognisable from a distance. Steel carries the newer connections between levels. The interior is arranged vertically, so movement through the building is mostly up and down.

The setting

The complex stands on Île Notre-Dame, an artificial island in the Saint Lawrence River, across the water from central Montréal in Québec, Canada. Parkland, the rowing basin and a racing circuit share the island. The city skyline sits opposite, on the far bank.

The stay

Rooms are set apart from the public floors, with glass towards the river or the park. Ceilings are flat and the plan is straightforward. Water is visible from most of the building, and the island itself goes quiet once the bridges have emptied.

Plan aheadThe island has a metro station and a bridge from the city, and there is parking on site, but the walk from the station is exposed in winter.

File updated · October 2025

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Fallsview Casino Resort

Made of

CONCRETE GLASS STONE

The fabric

Built into the slope above the gorge, the resort uses concrete to hold a large floor plate against the drop. Glass takes the entire river side, because the reason for the building is what stands on the other side of it. Stone facing covers the lower walls and the terraces, which ties the block to the escarpment it is cut into.

The setting

The resort sits on the Canadian bank at Niagara Falls, Ontario, on the high ground above the falls. Below is the gorge and the mist; behind it are the tourist streets of the town. The border with the United States runs through the river itself.

The stay

Rooms face either the water or the town, and that difference is the whole room. On the river side, glass runs floor to ceiling and the mist rises past it. Sound from the falls is constant and low, and the light stays grey for much of the year.

Plan aheadNiagara Falls has a train and bus station, and the climb up from the river is steep, so a taxi is easier once you are carrying luggage.

File updated · October 2025

Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

River Rock Casino Resort

Made of

CONCRETE GLASS TIMBER

The fabric

Concrete carries a wide, low complex laid out beside an arm of the Fraser River, with a marina at the water's edge. Glass fronts the river side and the entrance. Timber appears in the ceilings and the public rooms, in long members that break up spans a concrete building would otherwise leave flat. The plan spreads sideways instead of stacking upwards.

The setting

The resort stands in Richmond, British Columbia, on the Fraser River next to Vancouver and close to the airport. Flat delta land, dikes and light industry surround it. Downtown Vancouver is a short train ride to the north, on the same line.

The stay

Rooms look out over the river, the marina or the flat land beyond them. Glass is generous, and timber turns up again in the fittings. Aircraft pass overhead on the approach and boats move on the water below, so the outlook is rarely completely still.

Plan aheadThe Canada Line train links the airport, Richmond and Vancouver, and the resort stands a short walk from one of the stations on that line.

File updated · September 2025

Rama, Ontario, Canada

Casino Rama Resort

Made of

TIMBER STONE GLASS

The fabric

Timber posts and heavy beams carry the entrance and the public halls, and the scale of those members is the first thing you notice. Stone is set around the bases and the fireplaces, in blocks large enough to read from across a room. Glass fills the gables above them. The palette follows the landscape it sits in, of lake, rock and forest.

The setting

The resort stands on the lands of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, beside Lake Couchiching in Ontario, Canada. Forest, water and small townships surround it. Toronto lies a couple of hours south by road, and Orillia is the nearest town of any size.

The stay

Rooms are plainly finished, with the timber and stone kept mainly to the public floors. Windows look towards the lake or into the trees. The site is away from any highway, so outside noise is mostly weather and, in summer, insects against the glass.

Plan aheadThere is no train to Rama; the resort is reached by road from Toronto or Orillia, or by the coach services that run out to the site.

File updated · September 2025

Materials are what published sources say a building is made of; we have measured nothing and tested nothing ourselves. The month at the end of an entry is the month we last went back through those sources.

Other sections

Art Hotels · Capsule Hotels · Ice Hotels

If gambling stops being a game: in Ontario, ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600; in Québec, 1-800-461-0140; in British Columbia, 1-888-795-6111. Outside Canada, look up the helpline for your own country.