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.
Book it forEdmonton weekends combining hockey, a big casino and the Ramsay-branded Hell's Kitchen (Canada's first).
Look elsewhere ifYou 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 Hell's Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay's debut in Canada; 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.
Routes to the hotel
Pick your starting point and tap through for turn-by-turn directions to River Cree Resort & Casino. We only quote a time when a named source has published one.
Drive · Edmonton Airport (YEG)
Budget 20 to 25 minutes from Edmonton International — the resort's own pages give both numbers. All three parking areas are free.Per: River Cree resort site
Drive · West Edmonton Mall
Shopping first? West Edmonton Mall is around five minutes away, and the resort's complimentary shuttle goes back and forth every half hour.Per: River Cree resort site
Drive · Downtown Edmonton
From downtown Edmonton you'll need wheels: we couldn't find a transit stop and no official drive time is posted.
About this resort
Is Hell's Kitchen at River Cree serving now?
Yes — lunch and dinner, according to the restaurant's page. The River Cree branch opened as the first Hell's Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay anywhere in Canada.
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.
Verified with: River Cree resort site (p.2, p.3, p.4, p.5, p.6, p.7, p.8, p.9); River Cree hockey.
Facts verified 23 October 2026 against the publishers above. Rates, fees and hours move — confirm with the hotel before you go. Out-of-date detail? Email us. More: Prairies region · star ranking.