Casino Nanaimo is one of the oldest casinos in British Columbia, as Great Canadian Gaming Corp. established it back in 1986. It is located on Vancouver Island in Nanaimo, which is known as “The Harbour City.”
The casino’s convenient location alongside the south-central coast of the island is just about a 20-minute drive from the airport and a 10-minute walk from the port, which allows visitors from all over the country to reach it easily, especially those from Vancouver. The crossing on the ferry from Vancouver takes about two hours, while those seeking a more lavish entrance can take a 15-minute hydroplane flight and arrive in style.
The casino floor at Casino Nanaimo offers premier gambling options for both high-rollers and more cautious players thanks to over 400 slot machines with multiple denominations, six table games featuring various blackjack, roulette and baccarat options, a dedicated poker room with cash games and weekly tournaments, and a full-blown off-track racing sportsbook on the casino’s second floor.
Casino Nanaimo is also home to two distinct rewards programs for players: Privé Program and Encore Rewards, each bringing a special set of perks to its members, ranging from high-limit private rooms to free cash play, discounts and more.
When hunger kicks in, Casino Nanaimo’s customers can quell it at The Well Public House. While there isn’t an in-house hotel at Casino Nanaimo, there are several high-end and budget-friendly hotels with a wide range of amenities you could explore in the casino’s vicinity.
Casino Nanaimo
- Address: 620 Terminal Ave., Nanaimo, BC
- Owner: Great Canadian Gaming Corp.
- Operator: Great Canadian Gaming Corp.
- Hours of operation: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday (only the table games are open on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to midnight, and from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday)
- Casino games: 400+ video slots, blackjack, baccarat, roulette, poker
- Sportsbook: Off-track racebook
- Poker room: 4 p.m. to midnight on Wednesdays and Thursdays and 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; no limit Texas Hold’em cash games and tournaments.
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The casino at Casino Nanaimo
Following a major renovation and rebranding of the casino in 2011, the casino floor at Casino Nanaimo was expanded to over 17,000 square feet of space with more than 400 slot machines, six table games, an off-track betting racebook and a poker room.
Slot lovers will be happy to learn that they can find the province’s biggest progressive jackpot machines, such as Powerbuck$ and BC Gold Progressive among the games they can play. All slots at Casino Nanaimo are multi-denominational, meaning you can start from a single penny per pull and build your game until you switch to loonies.
There are also six tables with games such as baccarat, blackjack and roulette with different betting ranges suitable for those with deeper pockets and those playing on a budget. Among table games, players can explore Ultimate Texas Hold’em poker and plenty of other exciting options.
The poker room has three tables and offers cash games, tournaments and a chance to win a share of the Great Canadian Casinos Super Bad Beat Jackpot, currently estimated at $500,000.
The casino is also famous for running regular promotions, ranging from free slot play and tournaments to other contests, board games and swipe-and-win programs. However, the biggest prizes await members of the Privé Program and Encore Rewards.
Slot machines
Slot machines take up the biggest share of the available games at Casino Nanaimo, as is the case with many other casinos. Over 400 one-armed bandits await to give you a chance to win jackpots of up to $200,000 just for the in-house slots, not to mention the province-wide progressive jackpots like BC Gold Progressive and Powerbuck$, where millions can be won.
All the major players of the casino software production industry are behind the slot games available at Casino Nanaimo, such as Aristocrat, IGT, WMS, Scientific Gaming and many others. The most popular slots on the casino floor are 88 Fortunes, Blake Shelton, Lightning Link, Harley Davidson, Bonus Times, Cleopatra and She’s a Rich Girl. The most recent additions include the two-seaters Triple Sparkle and Riches with Daikoku that are also becoming increasingly popular among users.
As you can see, the game library is being frequently updated with the latest releases, which ensures you always see a new game you can test.
Table games
Compared to the number of slots, table games might feel a bit overlooked, and for a good reason. However, the six available tables can offer good-quality games. If you are looking for a spin on the roulette wheel or to try your luck and skill at the blackjack table, Casino Nanaimo has just what you need.
Some of the most interesting table games in the industry, such as blackjack, Roulette Revolution, and Texas Hold’em Bonus, are leading the way. The complete list of available table games is as follows:
- Ultimate Texas Hold’em
- EZ Baccarat
- King Bounty Blackjack
- Double Deck Blackjack
- Free Bet Blackjack
- Multiplayer Roulette Revolution
Privé Program and Encore Rewards
The two rewards programs that reign supreme at Nanaimo Casino are the Privé Program and Encore Rewards. Members of the Privé Program are exclusive guests of the casino and have access to the private high-limit rooms where they can enjoy a gambling experience and service that goes the extra mile.
On the other hand, British Columbia’s Encore Rewards program makes every member feel like a VIP. The four-tier program (Diamond, Double Diamond, Triple Diamond and Elite) brings a series of gifts and perks to players once they accumulate enough loyalty points.
Every time Encore members swipe their cards during the game, they earn loyalty points that can be traded for free slot play and other prizes. Among the most frequent rewards are free contest entries, birthday gifts and restaurant discounts. The more you play, the faster you can move up the program levels and get hold of more freebies.
Casino Nanaimo racebook
Casino Nanaimo’s second floor is reserved for the poker room and a newly built racebook where bettors can enjoy world-class off-track horse race betting on leading horse races from around the world. Off-track parlay betting allows bettors to have the same conditions as people at the track, making the whole experience even more exciting and potentially lucrative. The racebook at Casino Nanaimo tunes in to horse races every day, and players can watch the events as they unfold via its HD flatscreen TVs.
Casino Nanaimo poker room
Casino Nanaimo’s poker room is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to midnight and on Fridays and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Cash games of community poker, Texas Hold’em, four card poker and special tournaments held on Thursdays await all the visitors of the three poker tables on the casino’s second floor. What’s more, all players are eligible to get a share of the Great Canadian Casinos Super Bad Beat Jackpot with a pot of $500,000.
Casino Nanaimo amenities
While casino Nanaimo doesn’t have accommodations on-site, it is close to some good options for people looking to stay overnight or longer.
Best Western Dorchester Hotel and The Grand Hotel
The Best Western Dorchester Hotel is a three-star hotel just minutes away from the casino, featuring 70 well-equipped rooms and suites, banquet and meeting rooms, a fitness centre and even pet-friendly accommodation.
Another important local partner of the casino is The Grand Hotel on the north end of Nanaimo, situated among the natural rock gardens. This 70-room boutique hotel is packed with amenities, such as an ice arena, aquatic centre with a wave pool, indoor rock climbing facilities, and numerous amenities within the rooms and suites.
Dining
Casino Nanaimo is focused on providing not only top-notch gambling options but also superb entertainment and dining experiences, both of which can be found inside the walls of The Well Public House. The Well Public House is your go-to place for an array of appetizers, pizzas, burgers and other dishes coupled with an exceptional drinks menu. There are special breakfast, happy hour, and other menus in the restaurant, as well.
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Casino Nanaimo history
Great Canadian Gaming Corp. established Casino Nanaimo back in 1986, and it was the first permanent casino on Vancouver Island. In 2011, the casino was rebranded, and its entire 15,000 square feet of space were renovated. Another casino remodeling and upgrade happened in 2017 when $2 million was spent on expanding the facility, including the birth of The Well Public House, new slots, high-limit poker tables and an off-track betting lounge.
Since the casino opened, the city of Nanaimo has received $46.4 million through taxes on the casino’s gambling revenues, and when you add the fact that more than 170 locals work in the casino, you can quickly realize its significance to the community of Vancouver Island.