Calgary is a city with many personalities. Known as Cow-Town to some and the City of Festivals to others, Calgary is a vibrant area with both a rich Western heritage and a cool urban feel. 

Home to more than 50 annual festivals and the 10-day Calgary Stampede - the biggest outdoor rodeo event in the world - Calgary attracts more than 8 million tourists annually. 

Calgary also has the richest gambling landscape in Alberta. Its dozen or so casinos offer something for everyone, from lively downtown casino-nightclub hybrids to relaxed and remote resorts. Alberta is one of the few provinces that allows gambling from the age of 18, so you’ll find a real mix of ages inside Calgary’s casinos.  

If you’re planning a trip to Cow-Town and want to explore one of the city’s casinos, look no further than this guide. There are a fair few to choose from, so we’ve highlighted the top land-based casinos Calgary has to offer. 

Whether you want a quiet session on the slots or a few rowdy rounds of roulette, you’re certain to find a casino that suits your style. 

If you’re looking for a casino with a young and vibrant atmosphere, Cowboys is probably the best spot in Calgary. Boasting a decent selection of games, a 24-hour poker room, two lively bars, the Cowboys Dance Hall on its doorstep and the Saddledome just a short walk away, Cowboys is the ultimate weekend hangout. 

Of course, the casino itself isn’t as large as some of the others on this list. With fewer than 400 slots and 30 table games, it’s hardly a Vegas-style lineup. The 24-hour poker room is separate from the main casino (it even has its own entrance) and attracts serious poker pros at all hours of the day and night, particularly when it hosts the occasional No Limit Hold’em tournament. 

However, those seeking some quiet slot and table game gambling might not find Cowboys’ crowds quite so charming after 10pm. Offering slashed drinks prices at both the Centre Bar and Cowboys Dance Hall - and being within such close proximity of the Flames’ stomping ground - Cowboys has the youngest average age of any casino in Calgary. 

On the other hand, if you’re looking for some light-hearted casino fun that’s an add-on to (rather than the focus of) your night, you won’t find a more accommodating venue than Cowboys. Whether you’re celebrating a Flames victory or treating your date to a “Learn to Play” package, Cowboys is a great place to start, end, or spend your night. Plus, who doesn’t want the thrill of randomly bumping into Calgary’s greatest pro wrestler, Bret “Hitman” Hart?!

For more information, read our full Cowboys Casino review.

Grey Eagle has a unique bragging right: it’s the only casino in Calgary that permits smoking indoors! The total antithesis of the bustling Cowboys Casino, Grey Eagle is a remote resort that caters to a more mature crowd. 

Its location on First Nation land means it can legally permit smoking on the casino floor, the nostalgia of which - paired with its regular Senior Days and bus tour packages - attracts a mostly gray-haired demographic. 

Besides a hazy casino, Grey Eagle has plenty of other attributes that earn it a spot on this list. Its state-of-the-art concert venue regularly hosts big-name performers while local bands entertain guests on the casino floor. Its nightly buffets are famous throughout the land, with a different cuisine in the spotlight every day of the week. 

For overnight guests (which, due to its remote location, make up the vast majority), Grey Eagle offers a range of hotel packages. From Date Nights and Weekend Getaways to even a Pet-Friendly package, Grey Eagle caters for every situation. Access to the pool, outdoor hot tub, and 24/7 fitness suite is included with every room. 

As far as games go, Grey Eagle boasts a healthy 1,000+ slots and table games, including local Albertan progressive jackpot slots like Alberta Gold and American Original. There’s also a not-for-profit bingo hall, a feature you won’t find at many other Calgary casinos. 

Grey Eagle might not be the best choice if you’re asthmatic, as the smoke on the casino floor can get pretty intense during busy hours. Even the non-smoking High Limit areas aren’t impenetrable to the fog and the smell (they’re more like slightly less smoky areas). 

However, if you can hack the haze, it’s a rare and cool experience to light up a cigarette from the comfort of your slot seat. 

For more information, read our full Grey Eagle Resort review.

Deemed by public vote to be the “top spot for gaming in Calgary”, Elbow River Casino obviously had to make it on this list. Featuring over 600 slots and 35 table games, a dedicated poker room, and live music every weekend, Elbow River is a boutique spot that guarantees a fun time for every type of player. 

Dining options are quick and casual, from classic pub grub and weekend Dim Sum specials at Sammy’s Sports Bar to all-you-can-eat hot plates at Jester’s Buffet. You can wager on VLTs from the comfort of the sports bar while watching all the biggest live and pay-per-view games with an ice-cold beer in hand and a plate of prime ribs in front. 

The casino boasts a Vegas-style poker room, offering 24-hour gaming from Thursday to Saturday and 10am to 3am Sunday through Wednesday. The poker room primarily focuses on Texas Hold’em and Omaha, with the usual Bad Beat jackpots up for grabs. 

One big advantage Elbow River has over other sites on this list is that it has a dedicated off-track betting facility. Though it’s a little dark and unsocial, Elbow River’s racing theatre shows more races than anywhere else in Calgary. Grab a drink from Sammy’s, place your bets, and watch the biggest races in the world unfold in real-time. 

For some non-gambling entertainment, pay a visit to the Bayou Stage. The Bayou hosts local live bands every weekend covering every genre, from rock and metal to country and pop. Jester’s Buffet is right next door, so you can indulge in a fantastic Friday buffet while listening to some of the local talent. 

For more information, read our full Elbow River Casino review.

Covering just 52,000 square feet of gaming space, Pure Casino is one of the smallest casinos in Calgary. And yet it manages to squeeze in more than 850 slot machines and over 30 live casino and poker tables, more than other venues with much more floor space. The charm of a boutique casino like Pure is that you get a level of customer service that just isn’t replicated at larger venues. 

Most casinos attract an evening crowd, but Pure Casino’s heaviest traffic comes at breakfast. More specifically, guests come from far and wide for the $6.99 breakfast special, available daily from 9:30am to 11am. Not to exclude the evening visitors, Pure Casino also boasts awesome dinner deals from Thursday to Sunday, including the super popular Prime Rib dinner on Saturday. 

There’s no on-site accommodation, but the casino is less than a 10-minute drive from downtown Calgary. A visit to Pure Casino allows you to enjoy uncrowded tables and free machines in a slightly less chaotic environment than a downtown casino while remaining close enough that you can be back in your hotel room within a quarter of an hour. 

Pure Casino is one of only two venues in Calgary with a Replay Arena – an immersive ELT gaming zone. Described as the place “that keeps the party going all night”, the Replay Arena is exclusive to Alberta. Both the Replay Arena and live dealer tables are open until 3am, while slots and poker are available round-the-clock. 

Talking of poker, Pure Casino also has another unique advantage over its bigger casino counterparts: it’s one of the few spots in Calgary where there are no caps on bet limits. This means that savvy and successful players can potentially bring home a huge wad of winnings. Though there are only ten tables, the demand rarely exceeds the resources. 

For more information, read our full Pure Casino Calgary review.

Deerfoot Inn has so many strings to its bow, it’s surprising the bow still bears weight. Not only does it have a 60,000 square-foot casino, but it also has (and get ready for this) a 188-room hotel, an on-site waterpark (plus a hot tub), a WSOP poker room, a concert venue, a fitness centre, three pubs/bars, a First Nation restaurant, over 17,000 square feet of convention space, and the best over 55’s club in Calgary. Whew!

It’s a good thing Deerfoot has so many on-site amenities, as there are barely any other restaurants, hotels, or nightlife nearby. However, downtown is only a 20-minute car ride away (or a 40-minute bus) if you want some after-hours amusement when Deerfoot’s live acts finish. 

Most guests tend to stay on-site during their trip to Deerfoot Casino. Those who do can indulge in one of Deerfoot’s exciting hotel packages. If you’re attending a concert, why not take advantage of the exclusive Concert package, which includes your room, two gig tickets, and a $50 food voucher? Or, if you’re looking to wind down, check out the Spa package, where you get a room, $120 Spa credit, $100 food voucher, and chocolate strawberries & champagne - all for $399! 

Deerfoot is a great place to play all year round, but it’s a particular favourite among RVers during the Calgary Stampede. That’s because Deerfoot is one of the few businesses that opens up its parking lot to let RVs camp out overnight. You can stay here for as little as $20 per night, and the lot is so spacious you don’t need to worry about pesky cars squeezing in the next space and blocking you inside. 

Like Cowboys and Pure Casino, Deerfoot is also popular with the poker pros. Its recently refurbished poker room is open 24 hours a day and hosts regular WSOP events alongside twice-daily No Limit Hold’em tournaments. 

For more information, read our full Deerfoot Inn and Casino review.

For a venue that’s attached to an airport, ACE Casino is a super impressive size. At 72,000 square feet, it’s bigger than a lot of Calgary’s standalone casinos. The decor is also not what you’d expect from an airport casino. 

Branded as “Calgary’s ultimate luxury casino destination”, it boasts upscale restaurants with fine dining and stylish seating alongside modern casino furnishings and a Vegas-style gaming arena (which also happens to be Alberta’s only private electronic table lounge). 

Despite supposedly being Calgary’s most luxurious casino, slot bets only range from a penny to $5, so it’s not exactly a high roller’s paradise. However, it does provide a splash of luxury and excitement for regular bettors looking for entertainment before their flight. With 600+ slots and 38 casino and poker tables, you’ll have more than enough choice.  

Another win for poker players, ACE Casino Airport has a brand new 24/7 poker room with a dozen high-quality tables. Like Deerfoot, ACE hosts twice-daily tournaments, with an additional lunchtime tournament on Sundays. 

ACE promises to offer “delicious food at unbeatable prices”, and it’s a promise that certainly delivers. Guests can enjoy a range of buffets at very affordable prices, including a roast beef buffet for $25.88, a luau buffet for $20.88, a prime rib buffet for $19.88, a fish & chips buffet for $16.88, and a dim sum buffet for $13.88. You can save even more money on each option with a loyalty card. 

As Calgary’s only airport casino (and with Calgary having only one major airport), ACE is undefeated in this category. But even if there were half a dozen airport casinos, ACE’s stylish presentation, large game selection, daily poker tournaments, and budget-friendly buffets would still land it at the top of the list. 

Alberta’s longest-running brick-and-mortar casino recently rebranded from Cash Casino Calgary to ACE Casino Blackfoot. Along with its name change, Cash Casino got a total refurbishment, including a high-limit slot area, a shiny new table game section, renovated public washrooms, and a new state-of-the-art kitchen. Though still located on the Blackfoot trail, ACE has a brand-new look. 

Cash Casino  - sorry, ACE Casino Blackfoot - has three exciting poker progressives: Chase the Flush, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and 777 Blazing Blackjack. These jackpots go beyond the scope of the regular Hold’em and Omaha Bad Beat progressives, putting it high up on the list for poker fans. 

Slot fans have more than 600 machines to choose from, while table game enthusiasts are spoilt for choice with multiple variants of blackjack, roulette, craps, EZ baccarat, and pai gow tiles. ACE Casino Blackfoot boasts a VIP slot room with 29 ‘high limit’ machines, but, like its airport counterpart, this limit is only $5. For casual bettors, ACE has an exclusive 888 Slot Room with Asian penny games like 88 Fortune, Lucky Buddha, Dancing Drums, and Jinse Dao. 

The casino also offers some awesome promotions, including regular cash ballot draws and monthly ticket draws. Not only is there cash on the line, but you can also win large prize giveaways such as a round-trip ticket to Vegas on a private jet. While the casino might not offer Vegas-level gaming, it can fly you down to the real deal instead!