Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto

Overview

Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto — in Pickering, about 35 kilometres east of downtown — is the newest major casino hotel in Canada and the most modern-feeling. It opened at the turn of the decade with a floor sized for the Greater Toronto Area market: something close to 4,800 slot machines and 145 table games, which is the highest table count in the country.

Everything is new, and it shows. Sightlines are clear, ceilings are high, the air handling actually works, and the whole complex was designed as one piece rather than accreted over thirty years. An adjoining hotel and a 2,500-seat theatre complete the resort package.

The one caveat is character. This is a purpose-built entertainment complex beside a highway interchange, not a destination in a landscape. It is the right pick if you want a large modern floor within an hour of Toronto, and the wrong pick if you want a view.

The casino floor

The gaming floor is the property's clear strength. Slot machines run to roughly 4,800 units — one of the largest counts on the continent — covering everything from penny denominations to high-limit rooms, with the newest generation of modern slot machines well represented and progressive banks throughout.

Table games are the real story: approximately 145 tables covering blackjack at a wide spread of limits, roulette, baccarat with dedicated areas, craps, pai gow, sic bo and a rotating set of carnival card games. On a busy Saturday you can still find an open seat, which is rarely true elsewhere.

A full poker room runs cash games and tournament series with professional dealers. The sportsbook lounge is among the better-designed in the country, with tiered seating and a large screen wall. Private high roller salons offer raised limits, dedicated cage service and 24/7 VIP service for top-tier loyalty members.

What the floor holds

Casino floor

approx. 100,000 sq ft

Slot machines

approx. 4,800

Table games

approx. 145

Poker room

Yes

Sportsbook

Yes

Bingo

No

Hotel rooms

approx. 300

High roller area

Yes — private salons

Figures are editorial estimates from publicly available information and change over time. Our casino games guide explains each game in detail.

Hotel & resort

The attached hotel runs to roughly 300 rooms and suites in a contemporary four-star register: large bathrooms, good beds, floor-to-ceiling glass. It is the newest hotel product in Canadian casino gaming and currently the most comfortable at this price point.

Facilities include a pool and fitness centre, event and meeting space, and direct indoor access to the casino, theatre and restaurants. Parking is extensive and free, which for a GTA property is a meaningful advantage.

Dining

A dozen outlets across a steakhouse, an Asian kitchen, a market-style food hall, a sports bar and several cafés. The food hall is the practical choice and better than the format suggests; the steakhouse handles the special-occasion role. Standards are consistent, and volume is handled well on show nights.

Entertainment

The 2,500-seat theatre programmes touring music, comedy and event nights year-round, and its scale suits mid-tier international acts. The property also hosts sporting broadcasts and themed event weekends. Downtown Toronto's full entertainment offer is 40 minutes away by car or GO Train.

Practical information

Address

888 Durham Live Avenue, Pickering, ON L1W 0C4

Gaming age

19+ (Ontario)

Casino hours

Open daily, extended overnight hours

Dress code

Smart casual

Parking

Free on-site self-parking; valet available

Getting there

Highway 401 at Church Street; approx. 35 minutes from downtown Toronto; GO Train to Pickering plus a short taxi

Regulator

Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)

Hours, dress standards and parking arrangements change seasonally. Confirm with the property before travelling.

Pros and cons

Verdict