Ontario Casinos Dial Up The Entertainment

With winter setting in, staying inside never sounded better. And several top Ontario casinos are here to help.

From iconic rappers to dancing parties and even Christmas on Ice performances, there is something for everyone in the entertainment options at the province’s largest casinos.

PlayCanada takes a look at some of the best possible entertainment options to consider during the cold months.

Caesars Windsor Casino: Rapper Ice Cube takes stage after two-year wait

Iconic rapper Ice Cube is finally set to take the stage at Caesars Windsor after a two-year delay. Originally, the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Famer was penciled in for March 26, 2020. However, COVID-19 cancelled that. Feb.23, 2023 is the new date.

Tickets for his cancelled event are no longer valid (refunded) so punters will need to buy new ones if they plan on attending. They start at $58. Regardless, expect the wait to be well worth it.

Consider the 53-year-old is widely regarded as one of rap’s most significant figures. To date, he has sold over 10 million solo albums. He was also a part of one of the most influential rap groups ever during the late 1980s in N.W.A.

If gangster rap isn’t your thing, then consider the Barenaked Ladies Hometown Holidays Tour. It lands at Caesars Windsor on Dec.21.

Caesars Windsor is also playing host to:

Marie Osmond: A symphonic Christmas on Dec. 2
The Illusionists — Magic of the Holiday on Dec. 10 and 11
The S’Aints — A Holiday Celebration Charity Concert on Dec. 23
Blue Rodeo on Jan. 5
Burton Cummings and his band on Jan. 20
The Tea Party with the International Symphony Orchestra on Feb. 3.

Billy Joel, Blue Rodeo, Michael Bolton and more at Fallsview

From the waterfalls to the ice, Niagara will have the winter cheer in the air. The new OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino is now open.

Christmas on Ice – a high-paced spectacle of world-class ice skating and holiday cheer – kicks off this Thursday at the Avalon Theatre in Niagara Fallsview Casino. The event goes until Dec.9 with tickets starting at $25. For that price, patrons will be able to see national championship ice skaters, dancers and singers. Better yet, times are flexible for the event. For instance, multiple dates have two showing times. Typically, one will be in the afternoon (3 p.m.) while the other starts at night time (7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.).

Even better, the brand new 5,000-seat entertainment centre is just getting started.

None other than Billy Joel will be the official grand opening act at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino on Feb. 25. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m.

Before that, the entertainment centre will play host to some other big names:

Blue Rodeo on Dec. 10
Michael Bolton on Dec. 16
Larry the Cable Guy on Jan. 12
Former Eagle Don Felder on Feb. 4

Casino Rama: Dancing with the Stars in January

Dancing with the Stars on New Year’s Eve would have been a perfect fit. But a Jan. 27 showing will suffice.

America’s famed dance show – which is currently in season 31 – comes to Casino Rama with “Stars pros” and multiple dazzling dance routines. Promoters have indicated “special guest stars” will be also in attendance. However, who that may be remains to be seen. Former NBA player, Iman Shumpert, is the reigning champion.

Over the years, the dance show has attracted a wide range of talent.

Some of the more high-profile names include:

Mark Cuban (Billionaire entrepreneur)
Tucker Carlson (Fox News political commentator)
Steve Wozniak (Engineer, co-founder of Apple computer)
Buzz Aldrin (American astronaut)
Jerry Springer (talk show host)
Amber Rose (model)

Regardless of who does – and doesn’t – show up, punters should be in for a fun night.

Tickets start at $68.

Rideau Carleton Casino: Tribute bands aplenty

Impersonators will be plentiful at Rideau Carleton Casino this winter.

That’s because a trio of tribute bands will headline The Joint – the recently renovated second-floor party space at the casino.

Those names include:

Shania Twain tribute by Shania Twin (Nov. 26)
Tragically Hip tribute by Little Bones (Dec. 10)
The Beatles tribute by the Capital Beatles (Dec. 17)
Spice Girls tribute by Wannabe (Jan. 21)

Little Bones comes with the largest pedigree of the trio. The band has been doing its “young and hip” tribute for more than 27 years now.

Shania Twin performs this Saturday. As of Monday, tickets for the Shania Twain tribute show were still available starting at $25.

For New Year’s Eve, award-winning Canadian country star Jason McCoy will headline The Joint.

Random prizes also available at multiple casinos this winter

Entertainment can also come through randomness.

To that end, Fallsview is kicking off 2023 with its Early Bird Hot Seat.

The event runs from 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. on New Year’s Day with one person randomly being selected every 15 minutes. Their winning prize will be $100 of free play that can redeemed in slots or table play.

The key is participants must be sitting at a slot or table game at the time of selection. Some additional rules apply so make sure to check out their website if interested.

Shorelines Casino offers random prizes through Hot Seat Draws

Similarly, various Shorelines Casino locations will also be handing out random prizes via its Hot Seat Draws. Consider every Friday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., two winners are randomly selected to win merchandise prizes. The catch here is players must have their membership rewards card inserted into an eligible slot machine at the time of the draw to be eligible.

Shorelines Casino Belleville, Shorelines Casino Peterborough, Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands and Shorelines Slots at Kawartha Downs are all running the event.

Out of the bunch, Shorelines Casino Belleville will also be offering additional entertainment options.

Every Saturday until the holiday break (Dec. 17) there will be live music.

Events go from 8 p.m. – 12 a.m. and there is no cover charge or ticket purchase necessary to enter.

Scheduled acts to perform include: