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Rama (Orillia), Ontario · 19+ to play

Casino Rama Resort: our review

Last updated · facts verified

The biggest overhaul Casino Rama has seen in years is well under way on its Rama First Nation site near Orillia: rooms renovated since 2025, a ground-floor spa, three new restaurants led by Gateway's Atlas Steak and Fish. The constant is the 5,000-seat Entertainment Centre, still pulling major acts up the 400.

  • Rooms & views7.5
  • Casino floor8.5
  • Dining8.5
  • Shows & events10.0
  • Pool, spa & fitness8.0
  • Getting there6.0

Ideal for: Headliner road trips from the GTA, or cottage-country weekends with a casino built in.
Think twice if: You're relying on transit — Orillia is about a two-hour drive north of Toronto.

Halfway through a makeover

Rama has been open since July 1996, on Rama First Nation land a short drive from Orillia — and right now it is very much a work in progress. The plan, unveiled in November 2024 by operator Gateway Casinos together with OLG and Rama First Nation, touches nearly everything: rooms, a bigger spa and gym, the gaming floor, the restaurants. By May 2025 crews were working their way up the hotel from the second floor, and a brand-new ground-floor spa was already taking guests.

Rooms

289 in total. Specs for the redone rooms haven't been published, so the smart move is to ask, when booking, which floors are finished — it's the difference between old and new.

Spa and pool

Downstairs, the new spa brings saunas and steam rooms. Upstairs, the pool hasn't moved from the third floor. A bigger fitness centre is part of the same plan.

The Entertainment Centre

5,000-plus seats — among the biggest stages at any Canadian casino. Late-2026 bookings announced included Jesse Cook, the Righteous Brothers, Colin James and the Celtic Tenors, with tickets in those announcements at roughly $25–$89.

Casino floor

Gateway doesn't post counts, so we lean on Wikipedia: 192,000 sq ft, about 1,800 slot machines, 50 table games — treat as approximate. CTV reported a refreshed floor with upgraded slots in May 2025. Minimum age, as everywhere in Ontario: 19.

Where to eat

Three openings in about a year. Fall 2024: Chow Lucky Noodle Bar — wok plates, soups, bowls. May 2025: MATCH Eatery and Public House, tucked just inside the main rotunda. November 2025: Atlas Steak and Fish at St. Germain's, the first Ontario location for Gateway's top steak-and-seafood label; the St. Germain's part keeps alive the name of George St. Germain, a late chief of Rama First Nation. Plus a Tim Hortons.

Nearby

From Toronto, figure two hours up Highway 400 to Orillia. Worth a detour: Couchiching Beach Park (sand and gardens), the Leacock Museum National Historic Site, and Hardwood Ski and Bike in both winter and summer.

Verdict

Ontario's go-to for a show plus a lake. Time your stay for when renovated floors are available, book Atlas for dinner, and get tickets for a headliner — the main reason people make the drive.

Quick answers

What's changing at Casino Rama?

A refurbishment announced in November 2024 covers hotel rooms, a new spa and fitness area, the casino floor and new restaurants — parts opened in 2024 and 2025.

How far is Casino Rama from Toronto?

Roughly two hours' drive north via Highway 400.

What's the capacity of the Casino Rama Entertainment Centre?

More than 5,000 seats.

Where our facts come from

Verified October 23, 2026 against the list above. Rates, fees and opening hours move without warning, so ring or email the hotel before you book. Something stale? Email us. Next: Casino Hotels in Ontario · all ten ranked.