The Casino de Montréal is the largest casino in Canada by gaming-floor area and the flagship of the four provincially run casinos in Quebec. It opened on 9 October 1993 inside buildings left over from Expo 67 on Île Notre-Dame, a man-made island in the St. Lawrence River, and is owned and operated by Loto-Québec, the province’s government gaming corporation. This profile sets out its history, ownership, size and facilities in plain facts — it is a reference article, not a review or a recommendation to visit.
Key Facts
| Name | Casino de Montréal |
|---|---|
| Location | Île Notre-Dame, Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal, Quebec |
| Opened | 9 October 1993 |
| Owner / operator | Société des casinos du Québec (a subsidiary of Loto-Québec) |
| Ownership model | Government-owned; profits go to the Government of Quebec |
| Buildings | Former Expo 67 France and Québec pavilions plus an annex (three interconnected buildings) |
| Gaming floor | More than 526,000 sq ft (about 48,900 m²) |
| Slot machines | More than 3,000 (figure varies by source) |
| Gaming tables | More than 80, plus a poker room (figure varies by source) |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Status | Canada’s largest casino by gaming-floor area |
What is the Casino de Montréal?
The Casino de Montréal is a government-owned land-based casino located on Île Notre-Dame in Montreal, Quebec. It is run by the Société des casinos du Québec, a subsidiary of Loto-Québec, and is the biggest of the province’s casinos. The complex occupies former pavilions from Expo 67, the 1967 World’s Fair, and spreads its gaming across several interconnected floors.
Because it is a Crown operation rather than a private company, the casino’s profits flow to the Government of Quebec and help fund public programs. That public-ownership model is a defining feature of how land-based casinos work in the province and is covered in more detail in the overview of land-based casinos in Canada.
Where is the Casino de Montréal located?
The casino sits at 1 avenue du Casino on Île Notre-Dame, part of Parc Jean-Drapeau, southeast of downtown Montreal. Île Notre-Dame is an artificial island built in the mid-1960s using rock excavated during the construction of the Montreal Metro, specifically to host Expo 67. The same island is home to the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, which hosts the Canadian Grand Prix, and the Olympic rowing basin dug for the 1976 Summer Games.
Why the building looks the way it does
The casino does not occupy a purpose-built gaming hall. Its main structure is the former France Pavilion (Pavillon de la France) from Expo 67, a modernist building that had later served as the Palais des civilisations exhibition hall. A second building, the former Québec Pavilion, and a casino-built annex are linked to it, giving the venue its three-building, multi-level layout, numerous windows and relatively low ceilings. The France Pavilion was designed by French architect Jean Faugeron for the 1967 fair.
The history of the Casino de Montréal
The Casino de Montréal was Quebec’s first legal casino and one of the first modern casinos in Canada. Its story runs from a 1960s World’s Fair pavilion to a 1990s policy decision and several later expansions.
From Expo 67 to a casino
Île Notre-Dame and its pavilions were created for Expo 67, the world exhibition staged to mark Canada’s centennial. After the fair, many pavilions were demolished, but the France and Québec pavilions survived and were reused for cultural exhibitions. When Quebec decided to open casinos, these existing landmark buildings offered a ready-made, architecturally striking home.
The 1992 decision and the 1993 opening
In December 1992, the Quebec cabinet approved two government-run casinos — one on Île Notre-Dame in Montreal and one at Pointe-au-Pic in the Charlevoix region, which became the Casino de Charlevoix. Loto-Québec was given the job of building and running them and created the Société des casinos du Québec to operate the casinos. The Montreal site was the first to open, on 9 October 1993, after a build reported at about C$95 million. It started with roughly 1,200 slot machines and 65 gaming tables and drew large crowds from the outset.
Expansions and renovations
Demand grew quickly, and the casino expanded in stages during the 1990s, taking over the neighbouring former Québec Pavilion to add floor space. Later milestones include:
- 1997: the casino moved to round-the-clock, 24-hour operation.
- 2013: a major renovation carried out with the Montreal studio Moment Factory added a large multimedia digital wall spanning several floors.
- 2014: an interactive gaming area known as “The Zone” opened.
- 2020: 24-hour operation ended during the COVID-19 period and the casino moved to overnight closing hours.
For the wider context of how and when casinos became legal across the country, see the history of gambling in Canada.
Who owns and runs the Casino de Montréal?
The Casino de Montréal is owned and operated by the Société des casinos du Québec, a subsidiary of Loto-Québec. Loto-Québec is a provincial Crown corporation — a company owned by the Quebec government — that holds the legal mandate to conduct and manage most gambling in the province, from lotteries to casinos. Under Canada’s Criminal Code, only provincial governments may run casinos, which is why Quebec’s casinos are state-owned rather than private.
The Société des casinos du Québec runs four casinos in total: Montreal, Charlevoix, Lac-Leamy in Gatineau and Mont-Tremblant. All operating profits go to the Government of Quebec. The legal framework behind this public model is explained in the guide to gambling laws in Canada.
What is inside the Casino de Montréal?
The Casino de Montréal offers slot machines, electronic and traditional table games, a poker room and a range of restaurants, bars and entertainment spaces across its interconnected buildings. Reported counts vary by source and change over time, so the figures below are best read as approximate orders of magnitude rather than exact, fixed numbers.
Slot machines and electronic games
The casino operates more than 3,000 slot machines, alongside electronic gaming terminals, speed lotteries and virtual games. Some visitor guides cite figures closer to 3,200; the operator and reference sources generally state “more than 3,000.” An immersive digital area called ARcade, developed with Moment Factory, sits alongside the conventional slot floor.
Table games and poker
There are more than 80 gaming tables, covering games such as blackjack, roulette, baccarat and poker variants, with some guides counting over 100 traditional and electronic tables. A dedicated poker room runs Texas Hold’em tournaments on set days of the week. If you are new to how these games work and the odds behind them, the explainer on casino games and the house edge is a useful starting point.
Restaurants, bars and entertainment
The venue includes several restaurants, multiple bars and the Cabaret du Casino, a performance space that hosts concerts and shows. A high-profile fine-dining restaurant, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, operated on site before closing permanently in 2021. The current dining line-up changes periodically, so published lists should be treated as a snapshot rather than a permanent menu of options.
Is the Casino de Montréal the largest casino in Canada?
The Casino de Montréal is Canada’s largest casino by gaming-floor area, with a floor reported at more than 526,000 square feet (about 48,900 square metres). That single measure is the basis for the “largest in Canada” label that appears on most reference sources.
The answer is less clear-cut on other metrics. Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, for example, has a smaller gaming floor but a higher number of slot machines and table games. In other words, Montreal leads on floor space, while some rival properties lead on machine and table counts. Floor-area figures themselves vary between sources because operators measure total building space and active gaming space differently.
Canada's Largest Casinos
| Casino | Province | Operator | Gaming floor (approx.) | Slot machines (approx.) | Tables (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casino de Montréal | Quebec | Loto-Québec (SCQ) | 526,000+ sq ft | 3,000+ | 80+ |
| Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto | Ontario | Great Canadian Entertainment | ~328,000 sq ft | ~4,800 | ~175 |
| Caesars Windsor | Ontario | Caesars Entertainment | ~100,000 sq ft | ~2,000 | 80+ |
| Casino du Lac-Leamy | Quebec | Loto-Québec (SCQ) | Not published | 1,400+ | 48 |
Figures are approximate and drawn from operator and reference sources; measurement methods for floor area differ, and counts change over time. Casino de Montréal leads on floor area, while other venues lead on machine or table counts.
Visiting facts: age, hours and access
The minimum gambling age at the Casino de Montréal is 18, in line with the rest of Quebec. Quebec is one of three provinces with an 18+ limit, along with Alberta and Manitoba; most other Canadian provinces set the age at 19.
The casino operated 24 hours a day from 1997 until 2020. Since then it has closed overnight, with opening hours that have changed over time, so the current schedule should be confirmed against official information before relying on it. The site is reachable by Montreal Metro (Jean-Drapeau station) and by road, and parking is available on the island.
The planned hotel and future developments
Loto-Québec announced plans in December 2023 for a hotel on the casino grounds, with roughly 200 rooms and an investment of about C$150 million. In November 2024 it named Germain Hotels as the operator chosen to manage the property. As of 2026 the hotel is a planned project — it is not yet open — and published opening estimates range from 2026 to 2028, with room-count and budget figures still subject to change. Until an official opening is confirmed, treat any specific date as provisional.
Common misconceptions about the Casino de Montréal
A few recurring errors are worth correcting, because they come up often in casual summaries of the venue.
- “It was purpose-built as a casino.” It was not. The main structures are repurposed Expo 67 pavilions, which is why the layout and architecture are unusual for a casino.
- “It is privately owned.” It is a government operation run through Loto-Québec, and profits go to the province.
- “It is the biggest casino in Canada on every measure.” It is the biggest by gaming-floor area, but not necessarily by slot-machine or table counts.
- “The minimum age is 19.” In Quebec it is 18, unlike most other provinces.
- “The exact number of slots and tables is fixed and official.” Counts are published as approximate and change over time; different sources give different totals.
A note on responsible gambling
This article is informational and describes the Casino de Montréal as a historical and cultural landmark; it is not advice to gamble or to visit. Gambling carries a built-in house edge, which means the odds always favour the operator over time, and no strategy, system or amount of practice changes that. The minimum age is 18 in Quebec. If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, free, confidential help is available — see the guide to responsible gambling in Canada for provincial help lines and self-exclusion programs.
Sources
- Loto-Québec — Québec’s casinos: mission and mandate
- Loto-Québec — Casino de Montréal (official site)
- Loto-Québec — Hotels (casino hotel project)
- Loto-Québec — Casino du Lac-Leamy, plan your visit
- Loto-Québec chooses Germain Hotels for its Casino de Montréal hotel (news release)
- Destination Toronto — Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto
- Caesars Windsor — reference overview
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When did the Casino de Montréal open?
It opened on 9 October 1993, making it Quebec’s first legal casino. It was one of two casinos approved by the provincial cabinet in December 1992, alongside the venue that became the Casino de Charlevoix.
Who owns the Casino de Montréal?
It is owned and operated by the Société des casinos du Québec, a subsidiary of Loto-Québec, the province’s government-owned gaming corporation. All profits go to the Government of Quebec.
Is the Casino de Montréal really the largest casino in Canada?
Yes, by gaming-floor area — reported at more than 526,000 square feet. On other measures, such as the number of slot machines or table games, some other Canadian casinos rank higher.
What buildings is the casino housed in?
It occupies former Expo 67 pavilions on Île Notre-Dame — chiefly the former France Pavilion and the former Québec Pavilion — together with a casino-built annex, all interconnected.
What is the minimum gambling age at the Casino de Montréal?
The minimum age is 18, in line with the rest of Quebec. Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba use an 18+ limit, while most other Canadian provinces require players to be 19.
