Jump to content
Canada Casino Hotels

Enoch (Edmonton), Alberta · 18+ to play

River Cree Resort & Casino: our review

Last updated · facts verified

Enoch Cree Nation land at Edmonton's western edge is home to River Cree: a 249-room hotel, one of Alberta's biggest casinos, Gordon Ramsay's first Hell's Kitchen in Canada, two NHL-size rinks and a free West Edmonton Mall shuttle. Still to come: an 18-storey hotel tower, now under construction.

  • Rooms & views7.5
  • Casino floor8.5
  • Dining8.5
  • Shows & events8.0
  • Pool, spa & fitness8.5
  • Getting there7.0

Ideal for: Edmonton weekends combining hockey, a big casino and Gordon Ramsay's first Canadian Hell's Kitchen.
Think twice if: You want a brand-new room today; the new tower isn't due until 2027.

Casino, kitchen, rinks

River Cree opened in October 2006 just west of Edmonton on Enoch Cree Nation land, and it now pulls three very different audiences. Gamers come for a big casino; foodies for Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen, the country's first; hockey parents for the Twin Rinks, two NHL-size sheets with public skates and youth programmes.

Rooms today

The current building: a self-described 4½-star full-service hotel with 249 rooms, 11 of which are suites. A Keurig, a microwave and a mini fridge come standard, and room service never stops. Categories — Traditional King, Traditional Two Queen, Luxury One Bedroom Suite, Luxury Family Suite — are presented by video on the official site rather than with written specs.

Rooms tomorrow

A $200 million expansion broke ground in September 2024. STAY Magazine and GlobalData describe it as an 18-storey tower — roughly 230–240 rooms with 30-plus suites, a new pool with two waterslides, and a big event space. June 2026 trade press: exterior finished, opening aimed at July 2027.

Casino

Main floor: 1,665 slot machines, 46 table games, plus 14 tables in the poker room, all smoke-free. Smokers have Embers, a separate smoke-friendly casino with 405 slots and 14 tables. Alberta's minimum age is 18. The free River Cree Players Club also cuts 15% off the best available hotel rate.

Dining

Hell's Kitchen serves lunch and dinner with signatures like Beef Wellington and sticky toffee pudding. The Kitchen is the family option: breakfast buffet Saturday and Sunday (7 am–2 pm, $19.99) and buffet nights Friday and Saturday. Sports bar: Tap 25. Late eats: Fatburger to 4 am, Cree Subs to 5 am.

Families and logistics

A rule change on July 29, 2024 opened every non-gaming space — rinks, restaurants, community events — to under-18s, provided an adult tags along. Kids also get a pool with whirlpool, and West Edmonton Mall is about five minutes away on the free shuttle; adults get a gym that's open 24 hours. Shows go on in The Venue, which flexes from 500 to 2,500. Allow 20–25 minutes' drive to Edmonton International. No parking charge, and valet is free from 9:30 am until 3 am.

Verdict

Alberta's best casino resort for families, and worth the trip for dinner alone. Visit now for Hell's Kitchen and the ice; come back in 2027 to try the new tower.

Quick answers

Is Hell's Kitchen at River Cree serving now?

Yes — lunch and dinner, according to the restaurant's page. It was Canada's first Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen.

Are children allowed at River Cree?

Yes, with an adult, in all non-gaming areas since July 29, 2024. Gaming stays 18+.

When is the River Cree tower expected to open?

July 2027 is the target reported by trade press in June 2026.

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 Alberta · all ten ranked.