When Did Casinos First Appear in Canada?

Asking yourself when casinos actually arrived in Canada is more than a history question. It is a window into how entertainment, tourism, and regional economies have evolved across the country. From modest gambling halls to glitzy resort casinos and provincially run online platforms, the Canadian casino story is one of steady growth, innovation, and economic opportunity.

Before Casinos: Early Games of Chance in Canada

Long before the first official casino opened its doors, people in the land that would become Canada were already playing games of chance.

• Indigenous communitieshad traditional games that sometimes involved betting, woven into social and ceremonial life.
• European settlersbrought card games, dice, and lotteries, often played in taverns, social clubs, and temporary gaming rooms.

These activities were a far cry from today’s regulated casinos, but they set the stage. They showed that Canadians had an appetite for structured, social entertainment that blended risk, reward, and fun.

The Legal Groundwork: How Gambling Became Possible

For much of Canada’s early history, gambling was heavily restricted under the federalCriminal Code. That began to change in the late 1960s and 1980s, when the federal government opened the door for provinces to regulate and benefit from gaming.

• 1969: Amendments to the Criminal Code allowed certain types of lotteries and games of chance, particularly when tied to charities and fairs.
• 1970s–1980s: Provincial governments launched lotteries and experimented with regulated gaming as a way to fund public programs.
• 1985: The federal government effectively gave provinces and territories the authority to conduct and manage most forms of gambling within their borders.

These milestones did not instantly create casinos, but they created thelegal and political foundationthat made casinos in Canada both possible and attractive as tools for economic development.

Canada’s First Legal Casinos: The Pioneers

So, when did casinos themselves appear? The transition from charity games and informal halls to actual casinos happened gradually, but a few key openings stand out in the national story.

1971: Diamond Tooth Gertie’s — Often Called Canada’s First Casino

In1971, Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall opened in Dawson City, Yukon. It is widely recognized asCanada’s first legalized casino-style gambling hall.

• It operates as anon-profit, community-focused venue, with revenues supporting local tourism and heritage projects.
• The hall combinestable games and slotswithlive entertainmentthemed around the Klondike Gold Rush era.

While Gertie’s is smaller and more historic in flavour than today’s mega-resorts, its opening marked a turning point: legal, organized casino-style gaming as a tool for tourism and community reinvestment.

1990: Early Government-Owned Casinos Take Shape

Through the 1980s, provinces experimented with temporary casino events, often at fairs or special occasions, to raise funds for charities and local causes. The real breakthrough came with the creation ofpermanent, government-owned casinos.

In1990, Manitoba opened what is often cited asCanada’s first permanent government-owned casinoin Winnipeg. It signalled a new era where provincial governments would directly operate and regulate casino facilities, with profits reinvested into public services, infrastructure, and community programs.

A Growing Wave: Casino Expansion Across Canada

Once the first permanent casinos demonstrated their value, the 1990s and 2000s saw a wave of growth across the provinces and territories. Each region tailored its approach to local needs and opportunities.

Quebec: Showpiece Entertainment Destinations

Quebec emerged as a leader in building large-scale casinos designed as flagship tourist attractions.

• Casino de Montréalopened in the early 1990s on Île Notre-Dame and quickly became one of the largest and best-known casinos in the country.
• Additional casinos in regions such asCharlevoixand near theGatineau–Ottawaarea helped distribute tourism benefits beyond the province’s major cities.

These casinos combined gaming with dining, shows, and striking architecture, positioning Quebec as a destination for both domestic and international visitors.

Ontario: Gateway Casinos and Resort Experiences

Ontario followed with its own bold moves, particularly along the United States border, where casinos became powerful tourism magnets.

• Casino Windsor(now part of a major branded resort) opened in the mid-1990s and drew visitors from Michigan and beyond.
• The province later expanded with properties inNiagara Fallsand destination resorts such asCasino Rama, offering entertainment complexes with hotels, concert venues, and dining.

These strategic locations boostedcross-border tourism, created thousands of jobs, and supported broader regional development.

Western and Atlantic Canada: Regional Hubs and Community Benefits

Provinces in Western and Atlantic Canada also developed casino networks suited to their markets and tourism goals.

• British Columbiabuilt a mix of urban casinos and destination properties, often integrated with restaurants, hotels, and entertainment venues.
• Albertadeveloped a strong model ofcharity-oriented casinos, where community organizations receive a share of revenues from licensed gaming events.
• SaskatchewanandManitobacreated casinos that support both provincial revenue and Indigenous economic partnerships.
• Atlantic provincesintroduced casinos and gaming centres that support tourism in cities such as Halifax and Moncton.

Across the country, the result has been a diverse casino landscape that balances provincial ownership, private operators, and Indigenous leadership, all within a tightly regulated framework.

Timeline Snapshot: Key Milestones in Canadian Casino History

The table below highlights some widely recognized milestones in the emergence of casinos in Canada. Dates are approximate and focus on nationally significant developments.

Indigenous Leadership and Partnership Casinos

An important and increasingly visible part of Canada’s casino history is the role ofFirst Nations and other Indigenous communities. Across the country, Indigenous governments have developed or partnered in casinos as a tool for long-term economic development.

• Casinos provideown-source revenuethat supports housing, education, health, and cultural initiatives.
• They createlocal employmentin regions where other large-scale industries may be limited.
• Some Indigenous casinos integratecultural design, art, and experiencesinto their properties, offering visitors a deeper sense of place.

These projects have helped redefine casinos not just as entertainment centres, but as strategic tools forcommunity empowerment and self-determinationwithin a regulated framework.

The Online Era: When Did Casino Gaming Go Digital in Canada?

While the first physical casinos appeared in the 1970s and 1990s, theonline casino eraemerged later, driven by technology and consumer demand.

• In the late 1990s and 2000s, online gambling platforms began operating globally, including sites accessible from Canada.
• During the 2010s, several provinces launchedtheir own regulated online casino and lottery platforms, allowing adults to play digitally within a provincially controlled environment.

This shift extended casino-style games beyond physical buildings and into aconvenient, digital format, while giving provinces tools to promote responsible gaming and channel revenue to public initiatives.

Why the Arrival of Casinos Has Been So Significant for Canada

Knowing when casinos appeared in Canada is interesting; understandingwhythey matter is even more powerful. The development of casinos has created a wide range of benefits for communities and governments across the country.

1. Tourism and Destination Appeal

High-profile casinos, especially in cities like Montreal, Niagara Falls, and Windsor, have becomedestination magnets. They draw visitors who might not otherwise travel to those regions.

• Casino resorts encourage longer stays by combining gaming withhotels, dining, entertainment, and spa services.
• Visitors attracted by casinos often spend onrestaurants, shopping, and local attractionsbeyond the gaming floor.

This tourism boost supports local businesses, strengthens city brands, and enhances Canada’s overall appeal as a leisure destination.

2. Jobs and Skills Development

From the first casinos in the 1970s and 1990s to today’s modern resorts and online operations, gaming has been a significantsource of employment.

• Casinos hire people in roles ranging fromdealers, hosts, and securitytoIT, marketing, and management.
• Training programs help employees developcustomer service, hospitality, and technical skillsthat are valuable across many industries.

These jobs are often tied to communities where alternative employment may be limited, giving casinos a key role in supporting local labour markets.

3. Public Revenue and Community Funding

Because Canadian casinos operate within a tightly controlled regulatory framework, a share of their revenues is directed topublic and community purposes. This has been true ever since the first charity-driven halls and government-owned casinos appeared.

• Provincial governments use gaming revenues to support sectors such ashealth care, education, and infrastructure.
• Charitable and community-based models ensure that a portion of proceeds goes directly tolocal organizations, sports, arts, and social services.

From Yukon’s heritage projects to major provincial funds, the arrival of casinos has created a sustained, regulated funding stream for wide-ranging public benefits.

4. Entertainment Choice and Nightlife

On a personal level, the appearance of casinos in Canada has greatly expandedentertainment optionsfor adults.

• Modern casinos offer a mix oftable games, electronic gaming, live shows, bars, and restaurantsin one place.
• Special events, concerts, and culinary festivals help turn casinos intomulti-faceted entertainment hubsrather than single-purpose gaming spaces.

This blend of experiences has helped Canadian cities compete with international destinations for leisure and convention travel.

Frequently Asked Questions About Casino History in Canada

When did the first casino appear in Canada?

Casino-style gaming in Canada has roots in many community events and informal games, butDiamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hallin Dawson City, Yukon, which opened in1971, is widely recognized as the first legalized casino-style venue in the country.

When did modern, government-owned casinos begin?

The era of modern, permanent, government-owned casinos began around1990, when Manitoba opened a state-run casino in Winnipeg. This model soon spread, leading to major properties in Quebec, Ontario, and other provinces during the 1990s and 2000s.

Which decade saw the biggest growth in Canadian casinos?

The1990swere especially important. During that decade, multiple provinces launched flagship casinos, border and resort properties, and broader networks of gaming facilities. This period turned casinos into nationally significant drivers of tourism and public revenue.

When did online casino gaming start in Canada?

Online casino gaming emerged globally in the late 1990s and 2000s. In Canada, the major shift came in the2010s, when several provinces introducedtheir own regulated online casino and lottery platforms, offering digital play within a provincially controlled system.

Bringing It All Together

So, when did casinos appear in Canada? In simple terms:

• Legal groundwork started withCriminal Code changes in 1969.
• The first widely recognized casino-style hall,Diamond Tooth Gertie’s, opened in1971in Yukon.
• Truly modern, permanent government-owned casinos began around1990and spread rapidly in the1990s.
• The digital era took off in the2010swith provincially run online platforms.

From historic halls to resort destinations and online platforms, the arrival and growth of casinos in Canada has created jobs, fuelled tourism, supported public programs, and added a vibrant layer to the country’s entertainment landscape. Understanding when it all began helps explain why casinos continue to play a dynamic, evolving role in Canada’s economic and cultural story today.