Located just northeast of the Tsuu T’ina Nation 145 reserve, Elbow River Casino prides itself on being a slice of Vegas life in downtown Calgary, Alberta. Images of Vegas life are immediately conjured when you make your way inside, where you’ll marvel at the intentional choice of décor, broad selection of gaming options, including table games, slots, poker, and an off-track “racing theater” boasting more races to bet on than any other venue in Calgary. Elbow River features a deli, buffet, and sports bar for your breakfast, lunch, and dinner needs.

Just south of Ottawa—Canada’s great capital—and north of the St. Lawrence River, the Rideau Carleton Casino is also home to Rideau Carleton Raceway, which originally opened its doors in 1962. The casino and raceway are part of the Hard Rock Ottawa initiative, which supports Indigenous peoples of Canada in an attempt to bolster truth and reconciliation. Rideau Carleton Casino is run by both Hard Rock International and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the latter of which reinvests 100% of revenue back into the province. Rideau Carleton aims to always have the best new slot machines, and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The world’s best performers are known to frequent the stage, and high-quality fireworks displays on national holidays are always a welcome spectacle.

You’d be hard-pressed as a casino lover to have not heard of Casino Rama, even outside of Canada. And if you’re a top performer, you’ll no doubt be performing there at some point in your career. Located immediately north of Lake Simcoe and owned by the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, the venue boasts a whopping ten restaurants, 2,500 slot machines, 110 table games, and a 5,000-seater entertainment centre that has played host to Diana Ross, Faith Hill, ZZ Top, Dolly Parton, Smokey Robinson, Alicia Keys, and Lionel Richie.

Niagara Falls. At its mention, we all immediately conjure up images of the majestic variety. Niagara Fallsview Resort is nothing less than the best that Canada has to offer. Not only does it have a hotel sitting high above the falls itself, but each of its rooms was also specifically arranged to capitalize on that fact, giving occupants the best possible view of the falls at all times. Its impressive gallery of shops sports such names as Swarovski, Danier, and Roots, and I have personally admitted to being positively addicted to the Noodle Bar’s selection, which features top-quality sushi and sashimi in what amounts to pitch-perfect ambiance to help you wind down from an evening of thrilling gambling. Speaking of ambiance, it is hard to put into words just how Fallsview will make you feel, even as you wander among the aisles of slot machines and hover on the outskirts of game tables. The experience is almost dreamlike, with a constant flow of clean, conditioned air, and interior decoration and lighting that makes you feel as though you were royalty. At Fallsview, you will feel like a high roller, whether you’re rolling high or not. Even if you haven’t spent a dime, you’ll feel richer than you were before you walked in.