Wasaga Beach is located in Ontario on the shores of Georgian Bay, which is a short drive from Barrie and about an hour and a half northwest of Toronto. The main attraction here is the beach, which happens to be a part of the longest freshwater beach on the planet. 

I used to visit Wasaga Beach frequently when I was a youngster, and I felt compelled to revisit it on a recent trip to the area. I noticed that one of the latest hotspots to open in the region is Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach, which opened its doors in late 2022. 

Being an unapologetic fan of casino gaming, I just had to check it out. After all, it is owned by Gateway Casino & Entertainment, which operates several large casinos throughout Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. 

Besides, I had already spent the morning and early afternoon at the beach, and the weather had started to turn. This Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach review will tell you all about my experience at this casino and give you a good idea as to whether this is the type of casino that you would enjoy.

Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach is located at 15 Joseph Drive in Wasaga Beach, Ontario. It’s just a couple of blocks from the beach on the other side of Mosley Street, close to Highway 26. 

If you don’t mind a five-minute walk, then you can get there using city transit. Alternatively, you can grab a taxi, ride-share, or take your car. The casino has plenty of free parking right out front. 

I will tell you upfront that Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach is a small venue. Even though it was just built in 2022, the exterior comes off as rather cold and sterile. However, most casino buffs are far more concerned with what’s on the inside. So, what’s inside? 

Well, Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach offers a paltry 25,000 square feet of gaming space, which houses about 230 slot machines and 18 electronic gaming stations. Unlike most of the Canadian Casinos I have been to, this one doesn’t offer table games. It is essentially a small slots hall.

While there currently isn’t an on-site hotel, there are several hotels in the immediate vicinity, and some of them have partnered with the casino. That means that guests at those hotels can enjoy a few perks like free play credits and discounts on dining and accommodations. 

Playtime bills itself as a casino, but it is more of a slots hall. The most disappointing thing about my visit was that there were no gaming tables. Instead, the venue features 18 electronic gaming tables. 

For those who are unfamiliar with these games, they are essentially computerized online casino games that operate using a Random Number Generator. You can sit down at a station in front of a video monitor and choose from a good range of table games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and a couple of casino poker games. 

While these games are still fun, they don’t offer the social element that can only be found at live tables with real dealers and real players.

Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach has a little over 230 slot machines. The nice thing about them is that the slot stations appear to be new, and you’ll find a wide range of popular slots like 88 Fortunes, Lightning Links, and Willy Wonka. 

Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach also has a few progressive jackpot slots, such as the much-beloved Wheel of Fortune. Bet limits generally range between $1 and $100, and there is no high-roller room or VIP area. I wasn’t surprised to learn that the casino does not have a poker room.

There is no on-site accommodation at Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach, but that is because there doesn't really need to be. 

You will find an abundance of hotels wuthin a mile of the casino - 19 to be exact - including the Blue Mountain Resort, Westin Trillium House, and Living Water Resort and Spa.

My first order of business was to get some food in my belly. I was pretty disappointed to discover that the casino has just one restaurant. Match Eatery & Public House is open every day as early as 10 AM and as late as 1 AM, depending on which day you go. 

It is a pub-style sports bar that serves a pretty nice selection of pub fare and offers daily specials. It also has happy hours from 3pm to 6pm and 9pm to closing time. Match even provides live entertainment on the weekends. By the way, the casino is open daily between 10am and 2am except for Fridays and Saturdays when it’s open until 4am.

I will get into the casino gaming experience further below, but I have to point out that the staff is very friendly. Whether you’re trying to find something or if you have a question about the games, they are always happy to help. 

The casino doesn’t offer free alcoholic beverages, but guests can get free soft drinks and coffee at a couple of beverage stations located just off the main gaming floor. There is also a small bar, although it was closed when I was there. Of course, smoking is prohibited inside the building, but smokers and vapers can do their thing outside.

In addition to a cashier that accepts various trusted payment methods like credit cards and debit cards, Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach has a few ATMs on site. It is also fully wheelchair accessible and offers plenty of free parking. 

Smoking: No smoking indoors. There are a couple of outdoor smoking areas.

Food and Drinks: The casino offers free pop and coffee. It has one restaurant and a very small bar beside the gaming floor.

Casino Size: Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach has 25,000 square feet of gaming space.

Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach is fully wheelchair accessible, so no one should have much trouble getting around. 

Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach is a member of the My Club Rewards network. This rewards program is offered at over a dozen Ontario casinos and is free to join. You can sign up online or at the customer service kiosk at the casino. Membership gives players various benefits, including free play credits, exclusive promotions, access to special events, and discounts on dining and accommodations. 

My Club Rewards has five tiers. The first tier rewards players with 1 point for every $10 they spend on slots. Once you have amassed enough points, you can redeem them for free play at the slots. Even if you don’t plan on returning to Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach, you should still join because the card can be used at several other Ontario casinos. On top of that, you will automatically receive $10 in free play credits.

Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach always has a couple of promotions running. When I was there, the casino was promoting a $100,000 cash giveaway and draws to win Valley Farm gift cards worth up to $500. The Match Eatery & Public House also has some cool offers like daily specials and two happy hours per day. 

I should start by telling you that Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach is a very clean facility. While the décor is a tad bland, and the lights are too bright, it still offers a distinctive casino atmosphere with a cozy and relaxed vibe. Despite being one of the smallest casinos I’ve ever visited, it still feels spacious and offers all of the sights and sounds of a happening casino. Well, except for the lack of gaming tables, which was a major drawback for me.

As mentioned, the casino has just one restaurant, which makes sense considering the venue’s small size. The food at Match Eatery & Public House was overpriced, as expected, but it was pretty tasty, and the portions were generous enough. After slamming a burger and fries, I headed to the gaming floor to enjoy the casino action.

As a guy who loves live poker and table games, I knew that I wasn’t going to have the most exciting adventure seeing how those options aren’t offered. So, I started by trying to take down that elusive Wheel of Fortune progressive jackpot. I also played a few other slot and video poker games over the next hour or so before deciding to give the electronic tables a go. 

I played a few hands of blackjack, a bit of baccarat, and some roulette, but I just couldn’t get into it despite winning a few bucks. Including my time in the restaurant, I spent around three hours at Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach. 

⭐ Standout Moment

Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach’s clean and modern atmosphere stood out to me the most. I wouldn't say it has the feel of a new casino, but it was pleasant. Sure, it is not the biggest land-based casino in Ontario, but there are still plenty of slot machines and electronic table game options for players. 

I understand that a lot of people are highly entertained by slots. No matter which casino you go to, the slot machines always seem to attract the most players. Many of those players are happy to sit in front of a slot machine spinning away for hours on end. Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach is ideal for players like that. 

However, I’m the type of guy who prefers playing other casino games like blackjack and roulette, as well as live poker. 

One of the nice things about this facility is that it’s easily accessible by car and by city transit. It is in a very safe area and close to several amenities and local attractions, such as the beach. I also realize that Wasaga Beach is a relatively small community that likely cannot support a large Vegas-style casino. It’s not like people flock to the area for the gambling scene. 

Simply put, anyone who is searching for an authentic casino experience that includes table games and other options like poker or horse racing has better options available in Ontario. 

As mentioned, Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach is more like a slots hall than a Vegas-style casino. However, if you just want to play some slots or video poker, and you just happen to be in the area, then I would suggest a visit to Playtime Casino Wasaga Beach.