Who Owns the Casinos in Canada?

Casinos in Canada are owned by three main groups: provincial governments, First Nations communities, and private entertainment companies. For example, Ontario’s Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) owns and operates 23 casinos across the province, including the popular Casino Rama that attracts over 2 million visitors annually. This mix of owners means you’ll find different types of casino experiences depending on which province you’re visiting.

Provincial governments own most major casinos through their lottery and gaming corporations, making them the biggest winners from casino revenue. In Ontario specifically, the OLG runs 23 casinos and collected over $3.5 billion in gaming revenue in 2024 alone. British Columbia’s BCLC owns all provincial casinos there, while Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, and Saskatchewan each have their own government corporations running casinos. These governments use casino money to fund public programs like healthcare, education, and infrastructure projects across Canada.

First Nations communities have become major casino owners in recent years, with 17 First Nation casinos now operating across the country. Alberta leads with 5 First Nations casinos, followed by Saskatchewan with 6, Ontario with 3, Manitoba with 2, and British Columbia with 1. A great example is what happened in British Columbia between 2024 and 2026, when eight casinos in southwest B.C. were sold to First Nations groups. The Snunmuxw Nation’s Petroglyph Development Corporation bought five of those eight casinos, taking over from private owners in New York and London.

Private companies still operate many casinos, with Great Canadian Entertainment being the largest private operator in the country. This company was bought in September 2021 by Raptor Acquisition, which is managed by Apollo Global Management, a major private equity firm from New York. Even though Great Canadian Entertainment recently sold 8 casinos to First Nations communities, they still run other facilities across Canada and remain a key player in the gaming industry.

The ownership breakdown shows that Ontario has the most casinos with 23 OLG locations plus 3 First Nations casinos, while Saskatchewan relies heavily on First Nations ownership with 6 of their casinos run by indigenous communities. British Columbia is seeing the fastest change, with First Nations now owning 8 casinos they recently purchased. This means when you visit a Canadian casino, you’re likely playing at a government-run facility, a First Nations-owned venue, or a private company location, depending on where you are in Canada.

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