the casino de montreal, montreal's best casino
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What Is the Best Casino in Montreal? A Local’s Review

What’s the best casino in Montreal? Technically, there’s only one in Montreal proper, the Casino de Montréal. However, there are two more gaming halls nearby: The Playground and the Magic Palace. Each one offers something different, and this post will dive into the details of all of them.

I have fond memories of casinos — they were my grandma’s favorite place and we still like to go occasionally. I visited Las Vegas a few times with my family and there are always great memories attached to it. Having been to all of these casinos as a Montreal local, I’m happy to elaborate on my personal experience and give you some fun facts about each place.

So, without further ado, let’s hop in and help you make some memories of your own. Please note that children under the age of 18 are not permitted to enter casinos in the province of Québec, and everyone needs to bring a government-issued photo ID with them, as there’s a high likelihood you will be carded even as an adult well out of your teens and 20s.

Casino de Montréal

the casino de montreal, montreal's best casino

1 Ave du Casino, Montreal, QC H3C 4W7 | Website

The Casino de Montréal is the best casino in Montreal… because it’s the only one actually in the city. But it’s a beautiful venue that was designed for Expo 67 and later turned into a casino, so it’s got that mid-century architecture vibe.

The casino has been renovated and expanded fairly recently, which made room for a lot more slot machines, as well as entertainment venues. There’s a theatre with shows (some dinner shows) and a dance floor and bar with live music every evening. So even if you don’t want to play the slots, there are plenty of things for you to enjoy.

Is the Montreal casino open today?

Yes, it’s open every day. Even Christmas! The Montreal Casino is open Sunday to Thursday, from 9 AM to 3 AM and Fridays and Saturdays, from 9 AM to 5 AM.

How big is the Montréal casino?

The Montreal casino is the largest casino in Canada, so it’s pretty large! If you care about the choice of machines, then this is definitely the best casino in Montreal.

How many slots are in the Montréal casino?

There are over 2,800 slot machines and 120 gaming tables. You can see a small selection of the machines on the Casino de Montréal’s website. They’re always bringing in new machines and their penny slots section seems ever-increasing.

How many floors is the Montréal casino?

There are five gaming floors at the Casino de Montréal.

What is the biggest win in the Montréal casino?

The largest win in the Casino de Montréal’s history is over 3 million dollars. According to CTV News, Claude Voisin was there to see Québec music icon Roch Voisin and chose to play a few slots while he was there.

Is there a dress code for Montréal casino?

No, there isn’t a dress code at the Montreal casino. I’ve been there a few dozen times in my life, and they’ve never stopped anyone for how they’re dressed.

However, most Montreal locals do make a bit of an effort, especially if they’re going to see a show. I’d say that “nice, but not fancy dinner” is a safe bet to aim for if you want to dress up. For men, a button-up shirt and a nice pair of pants are appropriate, and for ladies, a dress that’s a little dressier than what you’d wear to work.

Can you wear jeans to the Montreal Casino?

Yes, you can wear jeans. You won’t look out of place, and many people come to the casino in casual attire. Dressing up is more of a personal comfort choice than anything else.

How to get to the Montreal casino from downtown Montreal

You can get to the casino from downtown in 2 ways: Metro & bus or driving. I recommend driving if you can. Especially if you’re not an experienced Metro user, it will be easier. But I’ve given you thorough instructions below as someone who’s done the Metro trip several times.

How to get to the Casino de Montreal by Metro

  • Take the green or orange line of the Metro to station Berri-UQAM, located in the Quartier Latin of Montreal.
  • Once you’re in the station, you need to go towards the green line platform. There is a set of stairs & escalators that takes you down to the next level.
  • There’s another set of stairs. Go down that set of stairs and you’ll be at the yellow line.
  • Get off at Jean-Drapeau station and take the stairs or elevator up to the ground level.
  • Exit through the doors across from the stairs & take a left. You’ll see a little shack structure. On the lefthand side of the shack structure is the roundabout where all the buses stop.
  • Walk to the 777 bus stop (be careful you don’t take the one going to La Ronde).
  • The bus stops directly at the Casino & you can take it at the casino to come back from that same spot.

NB: The yellow line at Berri-UQAM is NOT wheelchair accessible. There is one level that you can only get to with stairs.

How to get to the Casino de Montréal by Car

2 main bridges will take you to the Casino de Montréal:

  • Champlain bridge
  • Jacques Cartier bridge

On the weekends, it’s very important to use Google Maps or to search “which bridges in Montreal are closed this weekend?” because these bridges often close for construction. If you try to take the bridge that’s closed, you’ll end up with a half-hour detour if you’re not careful. There are a lot of side roads, and it’s very confusing.

Is parking free at the Montreal Casino?

There is free self-service and valet parking at the Casino de Montreal.

There are also taxis, and Uber stands by the main above-ground entrance to the casino. There’s no Lyft in Montreal, though.

Montreal Casino Restaurants

The Casino de Montréal has several great food options.

  • L’Instant: A cafeteria with moderately-priced cold food items and snacks and hot foods like hot dogs and hamburgers. If you want something quick and affordably priced, this is going to be your best bet
  • Pavillon 67: This is my favorite self-service buffet. It’s a great value for money. You will need to tip your server who brings you drinks here. The staff is very friendly and helpful, and there are a lot of food choices. They have a robust salad bar for vegans and vegetarians, so everyone can eat here.
  • Le M: This is the fancy seafood and grill restaurant. If you’re coming to the casino on a date or a special occasion, I would definitely recommend it.

I highly recommend reserving for both the Pavillon 67 and Le M restaurants in advance because the wait time can be long (over 2 hours on the weekends). The Montreal Casino website has all the details you’ll need.

Are drinks free at Montreal Casino?

Yes! There are plenty of free drinks on offer, and if you want something alcoholic, you can request it with one of the mobile server people who come around on the machines.

Do you have to tip for the free drinks in the casino de montreal?

It’s customary to tip, so grab a few loonies or toonies at the exchange counter if you plan to indulge.

If you want to save on tips and don’t drink, there are multiple stations on every floor with free water, soft drinks, and juice.

Where is the lost and found at the Casino de Montréal?

The lost and found at the Casino de Montreal is at the security desk, which is located on the casino’s bottom floor.

It’s tucked away in a little corner, so I recommend asking a casino staff member for help locating it.

Montreal Casino online

The Casino de Montréal has an online gambling site called Espace Jeux. It offers hundreds of online casino games, tables, and even a few games that take place in the casino and can be accessed online. You can also purchase a lottery ticket online.

 

You have to be in Quebec in order to play. I lived in Ontario for two years and even though I was a Quebec resident, because I wasn’t physically in province, I wasn’t able to play.

Casino de Montréal Rewards Points

Casino Privilèges is the rewards points system at the Casino de Montréal. Anyone can sign up for the rewards points and they often have promotions that will give you free plays for signing up.  If you’re a rewards points member, you also get a $10 promo off of brunch at the buffet restaurant.

You’ll get 15% off the Cabaret or Theatre at the casino with your rewards card. And you’ll get exclusive rates at the Hilton Lac Leamy and Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu.

To sign up, head to the dedicated counter on the main floor of the casino. Just stick your card in the machine and rack up those points!

300 privilege points is equivalent to $1 dollar.

How to earn Casino Privilèges

There are 4 ways to earn Casino Privilèges points

  • Casino play
  • Salon de jeux play
  • Online play at lotoquebec.com
  • At any restaurant in a casino or gaming hall in Quebec

Casino Privilèges points tiers

There are four points tiers to the Privilèges program:

  • Privilèges
  • Privilèges Plus (1,600 points)
  • Prestige (35,000 points)
  • Prestige Plus (400,000 points)

You can go to a counter if you’ve hit a specific level, but the points levels are tabulated annually on October 15th. You can see a full list of perks for each tier on the Casino de Montreal‘s website.

Entertainment at the Casino de Montréal

 The Casino has lots of things to do! Even if you don’t gamble, lots is going on:
  • A dancefloor with a stage band
  • Theatre & Cabaret

The dancefloor kicks off around 9pm every night and you can hear the music across the whole casino.

The theatre and cabaret are home to tribute shows, comedians, and local Quebec musicians. It’s a great way to experience Québécois culture. Check with the ticket office whether a show will be in English or French.

Hotels near the Casino de Montreal

The closest hotels to the Casino de Montreal are:

  • Hotel Le Dauphin
  • Sandman Hotel Montreal

These are both in the borough of Longeuil, so I don’t recommend them. If you’re planning on doing other things, you’re better off staying on the Island of Montreal itself.

My top recommendations of hotels near the Casino de Montréal on the island of Montreal are:

  • Lofts du Vieux-Port by Gray Collection
  • Hôtel William Grey
  • Maison Sainte-Thérèse
  • Le Saint-Sulpice

Casinos in Kahnawake

Kahnawake is about 15-20 minutes by car from Montreal. The Casino de Montréal is still the best casino in Montreal, in my opinion, but these are fantastic establishments, too.

The Playground MTL

1500 Unit C Route 138, Kahnawake, QC J0L 1B0

The playground is a poker and slot machine lounge with live entertainment on the native land of Kahnawake. It opened in 2010 and has quickly become a favourite of other Montreal locals. I’ve been there maybe twice. Everyone is super friendly and the slots are great.

The Playground is the best casino in Montreal for Poker. It hosts some of Canada’s largest tournaments and everyone can get in on the action at the 42 poker tables.

How many slot machines are at the Playground casino?

There are over 600 slots at The Playground, so you’ll have plenty of options.

Are drinks free at Playground Montreal?

Yes, drinks are free when you play at Playground Montreal. However, if you plan on asking the cart girls for a drink rather than getting it yourself, you’ll want to bring a few dollars for tips.

You can also eat for free at the poker tables, too.

Playground Montreal Review

This is a great casino if you want something that won’t be as busy as the Casino de Montreal. You won’t wait as long for machines at Playground and if you like poker, this is a better option. Poker is their main focus, so the dealers are generally a lot more animated and it’s a better, more serious poker crowd.

Mont Tremblant Quebec is beautiful but does it have one of the best casinos in Montreal?

Mont Tremblant at night. Photo by Michael Vesia.

CASINO DE MONT TREMBLANT

300 Chem. des Pléiades, Mont-Tremblant, QC J8E 0A7 | Website

The Casino de Mont Tremblant opened on June 24, 2009, for the Saint Jean Baptiste holiday, and it has been going strong for 15 years. Mont Tremblant is a popular ski destination, so the casino adds a great nighttime activity to the area, as there are limited nighttime activities if you aren’t going to hit the slopes.

Is there a dress code at the Mont Tremblant Casino?

No, the Casino de Mont Tremblant does not have a dress code. You can wear whatever you’d like and lots of people go in ski clothes. Personally, I like to dress up a bit more because my casino outings are occasional but you can find people in jeans and a t-shirt.

Is Mont Tremblant worth a visit?

Yes, especially in winter. During summer, things quiet down a bit in Mont Tremblant because there’s no snow, but there’s still lots of shopping, food vendors, etc., in addition to the casino. There are also many local festivals, too.

How old do you have to be to go to the Casino in Mont Tremblant?

Like all casinos in Quebec, you have to be at least 18 years old to go to the Casino in Mont Tremblant.

Mont Tremblant casino shuttle schedule

There is a shuttle that takes you from various places around Mont Tremblant directly to the casino. It operates only from Thursday to Sunday.

  • A shuttle service is available Thursday to Sunday at the following four stops:
    • Casino de Mont-Tremblant :00 & :30
    • Sommet des neiges :05 & :35
    • Chalet des voyageurs :10 & :40
    • Marriott :15 & : 45

On Thursdays, the shuttle goes from 5pm to midnight thirty. On Fridays, it operates from 5pm to 3:30am. On Saturdays, it runs from 9:30am to 3:30am and Sundays, it runs from 9:30am to midnight thirty.

Is there a hotel at the Mont Tremblant casino?

The casino itself does not have a hotel. If you want to stay at a Quebec casino that has an integrated hotel, go to the Casino du Lac Leamy instead.

There are many hotels within a 10-15 minute drive or less, though.

Casino de Mont Tremblant restaurants

Unlike the Montreal casino which has many dining establishments, your restaurant choices are more limited at the Casino de Mont Tremblant.

Restaurant Altitude

This is the only restaurant at the casino. It serves simple and delicious food with an amazing view of the mountain. You can see the full menu on the casino’s website, but you’ll be spending $20-30 on a quick bite and $60+ per person for a sit-down dinner. It’s definitely not the cheapest option.

The restaurant is only open from Thursday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Every Sunday it has lunch service from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Casino Mont Tremblant hours

The Mont Tremblant casino is only open limited hours from Thursday to Sunday, so for this reason it’s not the best Montreal area casino. If you’re planning a week in Montreal to play at casinos, I’d go to the Montreal casino from Monday to Thursday and Mont Tremblant from Thursday through Sunday.

  • Monday to Wednesday: Closed
  • Thursday: From 11 a.m. to midnight
  • Friday: From 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.
  • Saturday: From 10 a.m. to 3 a.m.
  • Sunday: From 10 a.m. to midnight
Mont Tremblant casino gondola hours

MAGIC PALACE

As of March 25, 2024 Magic Palace casino in Montreal suspended its operations.

What’s the best casino in Montreal?

The Casino de Montreal is the one you’ll want to visit. As a local, I return to it time and time again because it has the widest variety of machines, the best restaurants, and one of the best evening bands in Montreal. I’ve visited more times than I can count in my life and I will continue to go back.

What happens if you win big at a casino in Canada?

Lottery winnings in Canada are not taxed. If you win big, the machine will make a lot of noise and people will come and look and clap for you usually. An attendant will need to help you (depending on how busy the casino is, this can take over an hour) and they’ll issue you a cheque for the winning amount.

If you win the big jackpot, they’ll write it on one of those big checks and probably ask you to take a photo, but you can decline.

Responsible gambling notice

Please gamble responsibly. Quebec’s gambling helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The number to call is 1-800-662-4357. And you don’t need to speak French in Montreal to get help for a gambling problem. Operators will speak to you in both official languages.

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