While Canada is continuing to up its game when it comes to the gambling scene, there’s still not a huge amount of choice out there.

In fact, there’s only around 90 land-based casinos for casino-goers to choose from in the entire country, but at least it’s a step in the right direction considering that most forms of gambling were illegal up until 1969 in this part of the world – not even 60 years ago!

Now, just like anywhere, there are gambling hot spots. In Canada, this includes popular cities Ontario and Quebec. 

However, as much as I like checking out the big fish, I equally enjoy checking out the casino offerings in the smaller cities or towns and I was therefore looking forward to my visit to the Camrose Casino Resort in Alberta.

So, without further ado, lets jump into my experience.

The Camrose Casino Resort opened its doors back in 2007 and is currently the only casino in the area following rival casino Camrose Top Casino being temporarily closed.

Interestingly, despite claiming to be proud to be apart of the Camrose community, after a little digging prior to my visit I found out that Capital City Casinos Ltd has put in a request to relocate the resort to the more vibrant city of Edmonton in recent years.

Just last year, a decision from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) denied this proposal due to a lack of community support from the general public and the fact there is already a number of popular casinos in the Edmonton area.

One can only presume the leading factor in wanting to relocate to a bigger city is to generate more revenue, though I think it would be a shame for Camrose to lose its only casino resort so, in my opinion, the decision was a fair one.

As a resort, there’s more on offer here than just a casino. Alongside the casino, guests will find three places to eat and drink, a pool and hot tub, a fitness centre, and an events centre which hosts shows throughout the year.

Location

As I touched upon briefly already, the resort is located in the quiet city of Camrose in central Alberta, on the south side of Highway 13 on the east side of the city.

The resort is only an 8-minute drive away from Camrose airport or around a 45 minute drive away from Edmonton International Airport, which is pretty handy.

Speaking of driving, if you are bringing your own car then the resort offers ample parking for any size vehicle which is completely complimentary for guests during their stay, which I made full use of.

Unfortunately, arriving by public transport directly to the resort isn’t possible as there’s nothing in the vicinity.

The casino isn’t the biggest in the world at 27,000 square feet but it’s got everything you’d expect to see and certainly has the makings for a good day out.

I thought the casino itself looked great. With a traditional, patterned carpet running throughout and rich green coloured tables, it felt elegant yet laid back.

All of the tables and machines are situated quite close together but, honestly, it created a personal feel to the place that I really enjoyed. Plus, they were all in great condition. Some even looked new. 

I’m unaware of any major refurbishments to this place but I was impressed that there are obvious efforts to keep everything looking fresh.

Another thing to mention is the staff. It’s service with a smile here, indeed, and they genuinely can’t do enough for you. 

The casino floor staff were constantly wandering through so there was always help should you need it and they also did a great job of keeping things clean and tidy.

It will come as no surprise that neither smoking nor vaping is permitted anywhere within the building and must, instead, be done outside. 

Table Games Section

The tables games here are open Sunday to Tuesday, 6pm – 12am, Wednesday and Thursday, 5pm – 12am, and Friday and Saturday, 5pm – 2am.

As a self-confessed night owl, I was a little disappointed with these table opening hours, truth be told. However, I understand that it’s part of a resort in a not-so-big city so it’s not unfeasible that this would be the case.

Moving on to the table games that are available here, you can choose from blackjack, roulette, Texas hold’em and four card poker. 

I decided to keep it simple and opted for a few hands of blackjack to begin with. The dealer I interacted with was great and really professional. 

Once my dire luck forced me to move on to roulette, I began chatting with a couple who told me they’d only just gotten into the casino scene and that the staff had been helping them learn the games.

Upon arrival, the receptionist had informed me to just simply ask the casino floor staff if I needed help with any of the games, so it was nice to hear that this wasn’t just a passing comment and that inexperienced players are truly welcome and catered for.

Slots and VLTs

There are over 200 slots to choose from here which are spread out throughout the casino floor and it’s fair to say that I was pretty impressed with the variation.

Both classic and modern slots are available, with a range of the most popular titles, so those seeking a traditional experience or a video slot with exciting bonus rounds and plenty of features, this place has got you covered.

On top of this, there are a few progressive slots to choose from and 14 VLTs too.

I was feeling nostalgic, so I chanced my luck on a few of the more retro machines. I did fairly well too.

All of the slots are available to play Sunday to Thursday, 11am – 12am and Friday and Saturday, 11am – 2am and I was informed that slot tournaments take place monthly.

Electronic Table Games

There is a handful of electronic machines available here too which offer things like keno and poker.

As is the case with slot machines, these are spread out through the casino floor.

Poker Room

As you’d expect from any casino, there is a poker room here which I was told is home to six poker tables. However, unfortunately, it is temporarily closed and has been for the past few months.

For that reason, I was unable to scope it out at all and as a big time poker fan I was incredibly disappointed by this news upon my arrival.

I did ask a couple of members of staff when it was scheduled to re-open but nobody could give me an answer.

I’d heard some pretty good things about the hotel at this resort, so I was looking forward to trying it out for myself and I booked myself an executive king room to do just that.

The hotel is located directly next to the casino, so it’s only a short walk to the rooms which is always a plus in my book, especially after a long night at the tables or one too many in the bar.

The décor in this place undoubtedly leans more towards traditional in comparison to modern which better suits my personal taste.

Having said that, I’ll be the first to admit that a little bit of a revamp wouldn’t go a miss. While it’s pleasant enough, the mostly beige carpets and walls throughout the building can feel a little soulless.

One of the main restaurants at the resort is Rosie’s Kitchen. I was very pleased to find out that all hotel guests receive a complimentary buffet style breakfast which I was unaware of at the time of booking, so this was a lovely surprise and I made full use of this during my stay.

Laundry facilities are also available on the third floor of the hotel with ample washers and dryers that work on coin machines. Vending machines also supply detergent and the like too.

Camrose Hotel Rooms

At the Camrose Hotel, guests can choose from 102 standard rooms, which include 26 king rooms and 76 double queen rooms, or 11 of the suites, which include family suites, jacuzzi suites and executive suites.

All of the standard rooms clock in at around the 400 square feet mark while the suites are a little roomier. Note that the standard rooms are pet friendly. 

Room service is available every day from 11am – 9:30pm.

I found my standard king room to have a homely feel to it thanks to the drapes and the slightly vintage looking yet super comfortable sofa. 

Alongside two queen size beds pushed together to create an inviting and quite frankly huge bed, there was a wardrobe, chest of drawers, sofa, large flat screen tv and a desk.

The bathroom was fairly basic but contained everything you’d need, including a tub and shower.

One thing to note is that hotel room packages are on offer here which are available Sunday to Thursday and are aimed at different customers. The packages include:

• Senior Slots Package – Starting from $159 and specifically for casino-goers over 55, this package includes a standard room, dinner for two at the on-site restaurant, and $20 casino play.
• Romantic Getaway Package – Starting from $233, this package includes a king room, dinner for two at the on-site restaurant, and a bottle of sparkling wine. You can also upgrade to a jacuzzi suite for an extra $30.
• Regular Slots Package – Starting from $179, this package includes a standard room, dinner for two at the on-site restaurant and $30 casino play.

Food and Drink

• Casino Lounge Bar – Handcrafted cocktails served in a relaxed environment.
• Rosie’s Kitchen – Traditional food served in a casual setting.
• Joker’s Den Lounge – Casual bar with a great menu and fun atmosphere.

Without a doubt, the Joker’s Den Lounge is the place to be in my opinion. With ample seating, big screen TVs, pool tables and entertainment offerings like live music and all-request DJ music, the hours can pass by pretty fast here.

In terms of food, there are themed food nights which include fish and chip Mondays, taco Tuesdays and wing Wednesdays. 

After hearing that the Joker’s Den supposedly serves the best chicken wings in Camrose, I obviously had to check this out and all I can say is that if you’re planning a visit to the Camrose Casino Resort, try and make sure you’re around on a Wednesday as the chicken wings are nothing short of phenomenal.

Like I mentioned earlier, Rosie’s Kitchen is the place to go to enjoy a complimentary, buffet style breakfast if you’re staying at the hotel. It is also open for dinner as an alternative to the Joker’s Den Lounge, serving traditional dishes such as steaks, burgers, and mac and cheese, to name a few.

I only tried out Rosie’s Kitchen once for dinner but after being served a nothing-to-write-home-about cheeseburger, I ate at the Joker’s Den Lounge for the remainder of my trip. 

Entertainment

In a resort, I think it’s fair to expect regular shows. At Camrose Casino Resort, the major events are held within the Regal Ballroom, a 7230 square foot space which is usually used for weddings.

There is one upcoming event, scheduled for October 2024, which is a Billy Joel and Elton John tribute act.

Past events include things like an Elvis tribute act, Lady Gaga tribute act, AC/DC tribute act, and various parties on national holidays such as New Year.

As I’ve already mentioned, if you’re looking for some entertainment on-site, I can’t recommend the Joker’s Den Lounge enough. After some time on the tables in the casino, I spent a couple of hours here each night and the atmosphere was fantastic even despite it not being that busy.

Fitness Centre

The fitness centre at the resort is fairly compact but provides you with everything needed to squeeze in a quick workout, including treadmills, exercise bikes and weights.

The fitness centre is open daily, from 6am – 10pm.

I can’t say I’m massively into fitness while I’m away on a trip, or any time for that matter, but the option of having it there was appreciated, especially after consuming an untold number of chicken wings during Wing Wednesday.

Points of Interest

Points of interest nearby include:

• Mirror Lake – Take a walk around the mirror-like water of the iconic Mirror Lake. A must-visit for any nature lover!
• Camrose Golf Course – 18-hole public golf course.
• Jubilee Park – Set amongst 23 acres, Jubilee Park provides scenic views and walking trails.
• The Bailey Theatre – Historic theatre running regular shows.

Pool and Spa

The Camrose Resort pool isn’t one of my favourites, I must admit. It is quite small and I can’t help but think the pool room resembles a high street swimming baths instead of somewhere to relax and unwind during your stay.

I was surprised to find a rather large water slide within the pool room too, though the resort does cater towards families so I guess I shouldn’t have been too shocked by this.

However, I do feel as though the pool in particular is heavily aimed at children and this was confirmed by reception staff that it can get very busy with children throughout the day, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Having said all this, should you feel like taking a dip during the stay, the pool ultimately gets the job done. 

I opted for a morning dip and had the entire pool to myself which was pleasant, though it only reaches five feet deep at its deepest point so anybody wishing to practice their dives may want to look elsewhere.

Directly next to the pool is where you’ll find the hot tub. The hot tub maintains a heavenly 40 degrees Celsius at all times and I thoroughly enjoyed the half an hour I spent in there.

Camrose Casino Resort is fully wheelchair accessible and it looked like there was plenty of space to move around between slots and tables. 

Unfortunately, bonuses and promotions are where this resort falls a little short. Having said that, it wasn’t entirely surprising considering it’s only a small place.

Most of the promotions are related to food in the Joker’s Den Lounge. You’ll find things like happy hour on a Sunday and price reductions on wine on Saturday’s.

Casino-wise, there is a loyalty programme in place known as the Loyalty Express Programme. This rewards players for visiting and playing in the casino regularly and results in points being accrued which can then be spent around the resort, including in the lounge.

When I asked a member of staff, I was informed that promotions tend to walk hand in hand with national holidays and the like. So, you could possibly expect to see offers around Christmas time, for example.

The Camrose Casino Resort Facebook page is the best place to keep up to date with any offers as it’s updated regularly. 

I found my visit to the Camrose Casino Resort to be standard, for lack of a better word.

There were some things that were great and some things that were disappointing, so I guess the whole experience averages out at ‘standard’. Plus, I just don’t think there was enough on offer to warrant a mind-blowing experience. 

The casino itself, the hotel and the lounge are great. I loved the aesthetic of the casino and the staff made me feel comfortable and welcome. I spent a few hours each day there and would absolutely return if I was in the area.

The hotel was clean and comfortable, if not slightly outdated, and the Joker’s Den Lounge was probably the highlight of the whole experience. 

A couple of things did let this place down. I found the pool and spa to be disappointing and would have liked to see more promotions on offer.

What’s more, and while this didn’t affect me as I arrived by car, the lack of public transport in the area no doubt dissuades potential customers. I’m sure this contributes to the desire of the owners of the resort wanting to relocate to Edmonton. Whether this will ever get pushed through is uncertain, though it seems doubtful.

Ultimately, I think this resort is a good option for a weekend getaway but perhaps not for longer stays. 

If you’re in the area and just planning on popping in to use the casino, I’d say ‘go for it’.