Formerly, and still sometimes affectionately referred to as, the Boomtown Casino, the Rivers Casino in Fort McMurray underwent a rebranding a couple of years ago and is now owned by the Alberta-based Gamehost Inc.

Founded in 2003, Gamehost own three casinos across Alberta – the Deerfoot Inn & Casino in Calgary, the Great Northern Casino in Grand Prairie, and the star of this review, the Rivers Casino.

If you’re interested in a bit of background, Boomtown Casino was actually erected as a temporary operation without a permanent location all the way back in 1978, before moving to its current location in Peter Pond Shopping Centre in 2000 and undergoing rebranding in 2022.

With such a unique history and standing in the community, I was looking forward to seeing what this place has to offer. Plus, having already visited Gamehost’s Great Northern Casino in Grand Prairie, I was interested to see how they stacked up against each other.

As Fort McMurray’s only gambling facility, the Rivers Casino can and does get very busy, especially on the weekend when there’s live entertainment available.

Following a major renovation and expansion in 2006 when it was still the Boomtown Casino, this place now boasts over 23,000 square foot of space and is home to hundreds of slots, a dedicated poker room, a restaurant, and an entertainment space and lounge.

I did end up having a chat with a few members of staff during my visit and they were all so friendly and knowledgeable when I threw questions their way that the service definitely deserves some recognition.

Similarly, I found out from a member of staff that the casino works closely with the local community supporting groups and helping to raise money and I thought this was absolutely fantastic.

Location

Rivers Casino Fort McMurray is located at 9825 Hardin Street, in Fort McMurray in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in Alberta, Canada.

As is the case with the majority of places in Canada, arriving at the casino by car is most definitely the easiest way. 

There is free unsecured parking available outside and the majority of hotels surrounding the casino offer free parking too.

Having said that, the public transport offerings in Fort McMurray are better than other places I’ve seen.

There is a bus stop directly outside the casino which the number 10 bus services, but this only provides travel around the local area.

Something which may be more useful is the Fort McMurray Transit, a public transportation system which services the entire Wood Buffalo area, including the Fort McMurray International Airport.

During the major renovation the exterior of the building was completely revamped. From bricks and logs which created a First Nation kind of aesthetic to a black and white, sleek overhaul, I can’t help feeling the revamp took away a lot of the character but sadly this is the case with many places nowadays.

Similarly, the inside definitely resembles more of a modern offering but I thought that it looked good overall, with neon lighting and a funky patterned carpet throughout.

Live Table Game Selection

Rivers Casino has all the live table games you’d expect to see including roulette, blackjack, free bet blackjack, Chase the Flush, Three Card Poker, and baccarat.

I visited on an afternoon during the week so the casino in general was pretty quiet and not all of the tables were being manned.

In fact, some of the games weren’t even available and I was told that some of the games are only available on specific days of the week and at specific times which would be a little annoying if you visited with your heart set on playing something specific when it’s not available.

I opted for a few hands of blackjack followed by a stint on the roulette table which saw me practically double my money, so it’s safe to say that I left a happy camper.

I found the dealers to be pleasant but I did think that they seemed a little bored, though as I say, it was very quiet so I couldn’t really blame them.

One thing I did notice were the low betting limits. For example, the baccarat tables had a maximum bet of just $200, so the high rollers may feel uncatered for here.

The live tables are available from 2pm – 2am Monday to Thursday, 12pm – 3am Friday and Saturday, and 12pm – 2am on Sunday. 

Slots

The slot selection at this casino is undoubtedly a highlight and I enjoyed exploring this section of the casino the most.

There are over 400 slots to choose from, which includes hundreds of progressive slots, from big name developers like Aristocrat and IGT.

The majority of the slots here lean more towards the modern side of things so if that’s what you prefer, you’re in luck.

I spent the majority of my time trying out my luck on the range of Alberta progressives, including Diamond Millions and Jackpot Junction, but without much luck unfortunately. 

Poker

There is a dedicated poker room at this casino but the opening hours vary and depend on when tournaments are being held.

Cash games with buy ins from $2-$5 begin at 4pm every Friday, or at 6pm every other night of the week.

Tournament wise, there is a Texas Hold’em tournament held every Saturday from 3pm alongside other tournaments throughout the month which are available to view on the Rives Casino poker schedule a month in advance.

There isn’t any on-site accommodation at this casino but there are places to stay nearby that are within walking distance which includes the Clearwater Suite Hotel, the Ace Inn, the Stonebridge Hotel, and the Nomad Hotel and Suites.

I chose to stay at the Clearwater Suite Hotel which is located just a five-minute walk away from the casino.

The Clearwater Suite Hotel offers 150 rooms and a complimentary continental breakfast alongside a fitness centre, spa, pool, and lounge, though the spa was unfortunately closed during my visit.

Food and Drink

The Rapids Showroom & Lounge is the place to go if you fancy a bite to eat at this casino. 

The restaurant is open daily from 9:30am and offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

The menu is really diverse but I found it to be on the expensive side. For example, fish and chips would set you back $23 while the steaks started at $43.

I do like to try out the food offerings if I know I’ll be reviewing a place so despite the steep prices, I found myself a table and ordered a mushroom pasta dish which turned out to be delicious. 

One way to combat the restaurant prices is by taking advantage of the weekly food specials on offer. For instance, on Tuesdays you can enjoy cheap tacos and on Wednesday you can enjoy cheap lasagne.

The main bar is a modern space that is home to various screens so that you can take a break from the casino floor and keep up to date with the biggest sporting events.

Similarly to the restaurant menu, the drinks menu was extensive, offering a range of premium cocktails, spirits, lagers, wine, and shots.

There are also weekly drink specials too which allow you to purchase a particular premium cocktail on a specific day of the week.

Entertainment

There’s not a lot going on in Fort McMurray in the name of entertainment, so Rivers Casino entertainment offerings draw in a lot of people from the local area.

The newly expanded Rapids Showroom is where all the action takes place, with plenty of table space and a huge dancefloor which comes in handy with the regular live music events.

The calendar is usually updated a month in advance, giving you the chance to book tickets to the event of your choice.

To give you an idea of what to expect, some of the upcoming events that were scheduled during my visit included nights with cover band Joe Rebel, country band Sweet Tequila, and folk band Shanneyganock.

I did enjoy a cocktail in the Rapids Showroom Lounge during my visit but the atmosphere was lacking a little, though I could envision its potential on a weekend. 

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the building and unfortunately, there are no dedicated smoking spaces.

Guests wishing to smoke will therefore need to step outside the main entrance.

This Rivers Casino is fully wheelchair accessible.

While this casino doesn’t have its own rewards program, it is part of the Winner’s Edge scheme – Alberta’s exclusive casino reward program.

The scheme is free to sign up to and you can do this either online directly through the Winner’s Edge site or at Guest Services at any Alberta casino.

Once you have completed the registration, you’ll receive your own membership card which you can insert into any slot machine or electronic terminal inside any Alberta casino to being collecting points.

You’ll earn 1 point for every $1 to $5 you spend and the points you acquire can then be redeemed for contest ballots or free play on slot machines and electronic table games.

Plus, on top of the loyalty point aspect, being a member of the Winner’s Edge program also comes with other benefits such as a 10% discount on select food and beverage items at all Alberta Casinos.

Promotions

In terms of promotions, I have seen more prolific options at other casinos but there was still enough on offer to pique my interest.

While the offers are subject to change, I’ve included some of the ones that were available during my visit so that you can get an idea of what to expect:

• Groceries For A Year Contest – Receive one ballot for every $50 played, plus 10x ballots every Monday and 2x ballots every Tuesday. 
• Saturday Slot Tournament – Enter from 10am, with the prize for first place equalling $300, prize for second place equalling $’250, and prize for third place equalling $200 cash.

I would absolutely return to the Rivers Casino but I would only do so at the weekend so that I could check out some of the live entertainment on offer; I was told that the Rapids Showroom is the place to be in Fort McMurray on a weekend and I’d like to put that to the test.

I got the impression that this place caters more towards the casual gambler rather than the high rollers amongst us but this suited me just fine, however it is something to keep in mind.

Something that sticks out about this place is its standing in the community and I was delighted when I found out about all of the community work that goes on here. It’s not something that impacts on your experience, but it’s sure nice to know.

I think that Pure Casino Lethbridge offers everything you need for a good day out and I would have no second thoughts about returning if I was in the area again.

I think the slot variety is probably one of the highlights of the casino but the live table game selection is great too.

The restaurant offers a good dining experience, even if the prices are a little steep, which I always think is an important part of any casino visit. Plus, the bar area is a comfortable place to take a break away from the action of the casino floor.

I do usually prefer it when a casino has on-site accommodation but the fact there were so many options within a five-minute walk softened the blow.