Visitors to the Pickering region of Ontario have several options for casino entertainment. I recently had the pleasure of visiting the area, and I couldn’t resist checking out Pickering Casino as I had heard so many good things about it. 

I was told that it had over 2,000 video slots, 90 table gaming stations, and a full suite of electronic table games. What really got my gambling juices flowing was discovering that Pickering Casino also has a 24/7 poker room.

My friend and I hopped in his car and headed out at a little after noon. The plan was to start with lunch at one of the casino’s six dining establishments. We would then get our gamble on. As we approached the parking lot, I was quite impressed by the size and modern look of the complex. 

I was even more awestruck when we entered the casino. The place is nicely decorated, clean, and pretty spacious, with over 96,000 square feet of gaming space. 

As we had planned, my friend and I started our excursion with a tasty and filling lunch at Rock House Grill. I went for the pulled pork sandwich while he finally settled on a steak and mushroom sandwich. It was then time to hit the gaming floor. 

This Pickering Casino review will tell you all about my casino adventure.

Located at 888 Durham Live Avenue just off of the 401, Pickering Casino offers a complete casino gambling experience that includes games like slots, table games, and poker. Pickering Casino is owned by Great Canadian Entertainment, which also operates over a dozen other casinos across Canada.

While you aren’t going to mistake Pickering Casino for Las Vegas’ Bellagio or the Conrad Macau, it is an impressive and pretty large facility that covers over 330,000 square feet. Visitors can get there by using city transit, while riders are looking at short walks after getting off at the GO station. Of course, you can take a cab, grab a ride-share, or take your own vehicle. Pickering Casino has a free covered parking area. 

Before I get to the games at Pickering Casino, I must urge you to get your Great Canadian Rewards card before you play. Not only will you receive $25 in free credits, but you will also earn rewards for wagering on slots and table games. I will go into more detail further below. 

In the meantime, the 2,200+ slot machines are perhaps the most popular attractions at Pickering Casino. That's a number of games comparable to even the best online casinos. These slots boast a full range of themes, features, and slot mechanics, with betting limits generally set between $1 and $100. You’ll also find a solid selection of progressive jackpot slots, including the ever-popular Wheel of Fortune. That said, I’m not much of a slots fan, so I blew past them and headed to one of the $10 blackjack tables. 

After having the blackjack dealer pummel my bankroll for over an hour, I decided to try a bit of roulette. I had the rare pleasure of seeing a player hit two straight bets in a row. However, I also watched a guy go on quite the losing streak while using the always-risky Martingale betting system. Through it all, the players were upbeat and chatty, as is often the case at the roulette table.

I finally decided to do what I was most looking forward to, which was to play some Texas Hold ‘Em. I headed up to the poker room on the third floor. I had to go on a waiting list for the 1/3 game, but I only had to wait about five minutes to be seated. It took a couple of orbits to get a good idea of who the pros were and who the recreational players were. While there were a couple of loose and aggressive types, most players seemed to play pretty tightly. 

I played poker for about four hours before I realized that it was time for a big, fat, juicy steak. I cashed out my chips and headed back to the casino floor, where I found my friend playing slots. We decided to go to Copperhorn Meet House, where we both ordered a 24-ounce porterhouse. Even though the price was extremely high at $86 per slab, I have to admit that it was cooked to perfection and more than satisfying.

I spent the rest of the evening playing a variety of table games, including Let It Ride, Pai Gow, and craps. I felt like a kid in a candy store. And while I didn’t play any of the electronic table games, I saw that the casino had loads of them. 

I have been to many casinos in the Great White North, and I can honestly say that the selection of games at Pickering Casino is among the best in Canada. 

The complex is ultra-modern and was opened in the summer of 2021. In addition to the casino, the facility boasts a concert arena, several restaurants, and a 275-room hotel. And this is just phase 1. 

The site will eventually feature a water park, a 16,000-seat amphitheatre, a shopping mall, and botanical gardens, among other things. It will also boast three luxury hotels and Canada’s first Porsche Experience Center. 

Pickering Casino already has plenty of facilities, including the casino, restaurants, hotel, The Arena, and a poker room. This is going to be an amazing facility once the casino’s long-term plans are realized. One of the reasons why I prefer going to casinos earlier in the day is that they don’t tend to be too busy. As such, the service is usually better. 

I have to say that the service at Pickering Casino was very good, even later in the evening when it got a lot busier. The floor staff was pleasant and professional, as were the security guards. The dealers and croupiers were in full control of the action and obviously knew what they were doing.

I was also happy to see that the casino was clean. This includes the washrooms, slot stations, and gaming tables. Even the busy buffet managed to remain neat and tidy. Speaking of the buffet, that is just one of many dining options which are:

• Copperhorn Meet House
• Casual
• Sun Sui Wah
• Rock House Grill
• Zio’s
• Starbucks
• Sun Express

I already had money on me, but it was reassuring to know that the casino has a few ATMs along with a cashier that accepts bank cards and a few other payment options. It was also nice to know that the casino has a 275-room hotel. 

I was already thinking that I would like to stay on-site and make a weekend of it next time I’m in town. Especially if an exciting act like the Australian Pink Floyd Show was performing again at the 2,500-seat Arena.

Smoking: Smoking is prohibited indoors, but there are outdoor patios that are designated for smoking.

Venue Size: The entire complex covers over 330,000 square feet. This includes the 96,000-square-foot gaming floor.

Food and Drink: While visitors do not receive free alcoholic beverages, they can get complimentary soft drinks and coffee. There are also 7 restaurants.

Other Amenities: Pickering Casino has a poker room, concert hall, conference rooms, a hotel, and free parking.

You should know that Pickering Casino does an awesome job of catering to people with disabilities. The entire complex is wheelchair accessible and complies with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulations. 

All of the tables and slot stations provide plenty of manoeuvrability, which makes the casino seem very spacious and easy to navigate. 

As mentioned earlier, Pickering Casino is owned by Great Canadian Entertainment, which offers one of Canada’s best loyalty rewards programs. You can sign up for the Great Canadian Rewards program online, and you’ll immediately receive up to $25 in free play credits. 

Membership also gives players access to discounts on dining, hotels, and more, including invitations to exclusive promotions and events. The best thing about the program is that it’s free to join.

Whenever you use your Great Canadian Rewards to play casino games, eat at casino restaurants, or stay in participating hotels, you earn rewards points. You can then redeem those points for free play credits. For every 100 points you earn, you receive $1 in free play. You can even redeem your free play at any slot station.

Pickering Casino also runs exciting promotions such as Mega Maynia Draws, Inferno Hot Bank Draws, and Spin Frenzy, giving participants a shot at winning prizes like retail gifts and up to $500 in free play. 

Guests can up the excitement factor by participating in tournaments like the Waves of Free Play Slot Tournament. These are great ways to have a ton of fun while having a chance to win various prizes, including cold, hard cash.

Despite my friend telling me how great Pickering Casino is, I was a bit skeptical. However, I saw that the casino would meet and possibly exceed my expectations the second I walked through the front door. When I looked at all of those slots and table games, I knew I was in for a good time. 

Aside from the excellent selection of games, the place is clean, tastefully decorated, and lit the way a casino should be. Even though the atmosphere is charged, the layout and ambience make it as laidback as can be. 

I know that dining in most large Canadian casinos can be expensive, but the food and beverage prices at Pickering Casino were a bit higher than I expected. I mean, $86 for a steak? Still, I was more than happy with the quality and size of the portions and the top-quality service. 

I should clarify that there are several cheaper dining options available. I probably would have opted for Zio’s or another meal at Rock House if I hadn’t been craving a steak so badly. Between Pickering Casino’s dining options, you can have almost anything, including burgers, steaks, seafood, Chinese food, and Italian food. 

I spent most of my playing time in the poker room, and I had a blast. While one of the regulars hammered me hard a couple of times, I had some good card luck and took down enough pots to walk away with a decent profit. The poker room offers comfortable seating, new-looking tables, and very good service. It is spacious, clean, and very modern. 

I capped off my evening with a few table games. While I had a lot of fun, I lamented the fact that I wasn’t going to be around to see a particular band that I’m a fan of. They would be performing in the 2,500-seat Arena in two weeks. That alone would be enough to get me to come back, but I won’t be anywhere near Pickering (or Ontario, for that matter) when they come to town.

⭐ Standout Moment

My standout moment was witnessing a lady win two consecutive straight bets at the roulette table. She was excited about winning the first one, but the entire table erupted in cheers when the second one hit. It’s refreshing to see people feel genuinely happy for someone else, even when some of those folks are losing.

My experience at Pickering Casino was even better than I expected. In terms of the casino games, you can’t ask for much more. Sure, the casino doesn’t have every game known to man, but it has tons of slots and table games. I thought that the selection of slot machines and progressive jackpots were strong and that the poker room was top-shelf and similar to what you'd expect in brand new casinos. A 10% rake up to $20 is on par with most other Canadian poker rooms.

I liked having so many dining options to choose from. Both restaurants that my friend and I went to served generous portions that tasted as good as they looked. As I would love to come to Pickering Casino the next time I’m in the area, I briefly checked out the hotel. The rooms offer all of the comforts of home, including Smart TVs, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. You can book a room for about $150 per night if you plan ahead.

The location of Pickering Casino isn’t ideal in terms of getting there by city transit. However, it’s worth the trip. You can always drive your car and park for free or take a taxi or ride-share. With the amount of security in and around the casino, you’ll certainly be safe. As a guy who has been to countless Canadian casinos, I can tell you that Pickering Casino is the real deal.