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Canadian Casino Resorts

Richmond, British Columbia · gaming floor 19+

River Rock Casino Resort — full review

Last revision · fact check

Transit doesn't get easier: from River Rock, the Canada Line reaches YVR in seven minutes and downtown Vancouver in eighteen. On top of that come 396 rooms with some standout suites, Gordon Ramsay Steak (his first in Canada), a pool with a water slide and a marina right on the Fraser.

  • Rooms & views8.5
  • Casino floor8.0
  • Dining9.0
  • Shows & events7.5
  • Pool, spa & fitness8.5
  • Getting there10.0

Book it for: YVR travellers, serious eaters and anyone leaving the car at home.
Pass if: You want stadium-scale concerts — The Show Theatre tops out at 965 seats.

Twenty years on the Fraser

Opened in Richmond in 2004, River Rock marked two decades with a refresh whose star is Gordon Ramsay Steak, the first Ramsay fine-dining room in Canada. Ownership passed in June 2026 from Great Canadian Entertainment to a First Nations-led partnership. Practically speaking, its biggest asset is next door: the Canada Line's Bridgeport station.

Rooms, towers and suites

396 rooms. Hotel Tower standards — King, Two Queen, accessible King — are 325 sq ft each. Cross the sky bridge to the Casino Tower for suites: one- and two-bedroom (525–650 sq ft), Executive (sunken living room), Penthouse (1,000–1,200 sq ft, sweeping river views) and a 2,800 sq ft Presidential with fireplaces and a starlight ceiling above the bed. Mini fridge, coffee maker, safe, blackout curtains. Minimum check-in age: 19.

Why foodies come

Ramsay's steaks are dry-aged 28 days, and there's now an indoor-outdoor dining space facing the marina. Sea Harbour covers Chinese seafood, with dim sum 10 am–3 pm. Since 2026, KOI — sushi from the Kuns Omakase team — occupies the old Miku space. Late eats at Chopsticks Noodlehouse (until 3 am), burgers at Rock House, and at The Chairman's Room the Grand Weekend Dinner Buffet, Fri–Sun 4–9 pm: $85 adult, $80 senior, $35 child; Sunday brunch there runs 9 am–3 pm. Privé Bar: 11 am to 2 am daily.

Pool, spa, marina

Water slide included: the pool opens 6 am–10 pm every day. Absolute Spa is up on level 2 — six treatment rooms, 10 am to 6 pm. Add a fitness centre and the riverside marina.

Casino and showroom

24-hour gaming with a poker room and racebook, 19+. River Rock publishes no slot or table totals online, and neither do we. B.C.'s shared Encore Rewards is the loyalty card. The Show Theatre, at 965 seats, is built for comedy nights and tribute bands, not arena tours.

Fees and pets

Every room carries a $19.99-a-day resort fee; it includes West Lot parking, about a five-minute walk to the lobby. Pets: $35 per pet per night, billed for three nights at most, with a bed and bowls laid on.

Our take

Using YVR? You won't find a smarter casino hotel in Canada, and dinner alone is worth the booking. Big concerts are better back east; big steaks are right here.

Traveller questions, answered

How do I get to River Rock from Vancouver airport?

Take the Canada Line to Bridgeport — roughly seven minutes from YVR, according to the resort.

Does River Rock run a buffet?

Yes: the Grand Weekend Dinner Buffet in The Chairman's Room, Friday–Sunday 4–9 pm, plus a Sunday brunch.

What does River Rock charge for pets?

$35 per pet per night, with a maximum of three nights billed.

Sources behind this review

Fact check: October 23, 2026, against the sources listed above. Rates, fees and hours move — confirm directly with the hotel before booking. Something out of date? Email us. Next: Casino Hotels in British Columbia or the full ranking.