Updated November 10, 2026 · Ottawa casino guide
Ottawa Casino: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa and Casinos Near Ottawa
Reviewed by Ryan Caldwell, Casino Expert & Editor-in-Chief · Updated November 10, 2026
In July 2025 the old Rideau Carleton Casino reopened as Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, the first fully integrated Hard Rock resort in Canada, and the Ottawa casino scene changed with it. Below we go through the Ottawa casino in detail: the hotel, the gaming floor and Hard Rock Live. We also compare it with the Gatineau casino across the river and explain how Ottawa players can play legally online.
The toplist above covers online casinos you can play anywhere in Ontario, including at home in Ottawa. For the land-based Ottawa casino, read on. Our main online casino Ontario guide compares the online sites.
Is There a Casino in Ottawa?
Yes. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa is the main casino Ottawa, Ontario has today, and the only casino in Ottawa on the Ontario side. It sits on Albion Road in the city’s south end, on the site of the Rideau Carleton Raceway. The former Rideau Carleton Casino operated there from 2000, and the new resort opened on July 3, 2025. Hard Rock International runs it under an agreement with OLG, and the AGCO regulates it like every other casino in Ontario.
Across the Ottawa River, Gatineau has its own casino, Casino du Lac-Leamy, run by Loto-Québec. Because it is in Quebec, it follows Quebec’s rules, including an 18+ age limit rather than Ontario’s 19+.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa
The roughly C$350 million redevelopment turned the raceway casino into a resort of around 150,000 square feet. The plans for the expanded casino set out around 1,500 slot machines, about 40 live table games, a sportsbook, high-limit gaming and a dedicated baccarat room. Live harness racing continues at Rideau Carleton Raceway on the same site.
Stay
The Ottawa casino hotel
A 150-room Hard Rock Hotel, including 22 suites, making it the city’s only true casino hotel on the Ontario side of the river.
See
Hard Rock Live
An 1,800-seat performance venue, expandable to around 2,200 standing, for concerts, comedy, boxing and other events.
Eat
Restaurants and bars
More than ten restaurants, bars and lounges, including Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, a Hard Rock Cafe and a Marketplace food hall.
For most people searching for an Ottawa casino hotel or a night out with dinner and a show, this is now the obvious choice. The resort also displays more than 120 pieces of music memorabilia, with a strong focus on Canadian artists.
Getting to the Ottawa Casino
● Location — Albion Road, in Ottawa’s south end, about 20–25 minutes by car from downtown in normal traffic.
● By car — the resort has on-site parking; check event days, when Hard Rock Live shows make it busier.
● By transit — OC Transpo routes serve the south end; check current routes and late-night service before you travel.
● From the airport — Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is a short drive away.
Casino Near Ottawa: Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau
Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec, is about 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa and is one of the largest casinos in Quebec. It is run by Loto-Québec and has an attached hotel, the Hilton Lac-Leamy, as well as the Théâtre du Casino, which hosts concerts and shows. If you are searching for a hotel casino Gatineau visitors use, or a casino Gatineau spectacle, this is the venue.
The age difference catches many visitors out. An 18-year-old can enter the Gatineau casino but not the Ottawa one. Our guide to the gambling age in Ontario explains the rules in detail.
Other Casinos Within Reach of Ottawa
For a longer trip, Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands in Gananoque, Shorelines Casino Belleville and Shorelines Casino Peterborough are along Highway 401 to the south-west. The big Toronto-area resorts are around four to five hours away; our guides to Toronto casinos and all Ontario casinos cover the rest of the province.
What to Know Before You Visit
1. You must be 19 or older to enter the gaming floor in Ottawa.
2. Bring valid government-issued photo ID; passports are fine for visitors.
3. Join the casino’s free rewards program on your first visit.
4. Check the Hard Rock Live schedule — big shows mean busier floors and parking.
5. Book the hotel early on event nights and weekends.
6. Set a budget before you arrive and stick to it.
Sports Betting in Ottawa
The Ottawa casino includes a sportsbook for in-person betting, and lottery retailers across the city sell OLG’s Proline. Online, licensed Ontario sportsbooks are available anywhere in Ottawa to bettors aged 19 and over. Senators, Redblacks and Ottawa Charge fans can find markets on most regulated sites; our guide to sports betting in Ontario compares them.
Ottawa Casino Online: Playing From Home
Ottawa residents can play at licensed Ontario online casinos from anywhere in the city, as long as they are 19 or older and physically in Ontario. One local detail matters: if you are on the Gatineau side of the river, Ontario online casinos will block real money play, because your location is in Quebec. The toplist at the top of this page covers the online casinos Ottawa players can join.
Responsible Gambling in Ottawa
The Ottawa casino has responsible gambling information on site, and OLG runs a self-exclusion program for Ontario land-based venues. For online play, BetGuard lets you self-exclude from every regulated gaming site in Ontario at once. Quebec runs its own programs for Gatineau. ConnexOntario offers free, confidential support 24/7.
Explore Our Ontario Casino Guides
Online casino guides
Our main rankings of the best Ontario online casinos.
Legal online casinos Ontario →
How to check that an Ontario gambling site is licensed.
Recently licensed brands, tested in their first month.
Welcome offers, promos and free spins compared on real terms.
Free spins and bonus cash without a deposit, and their limits.
Fastest payout casino Ontario →
Instant and fast withdrawal casinos, timed by method.
Best paying online casino Ontario →
High-RTP games and the casinos that stock the best versions.
Real money slots, Megaways and jackpots by category.
Live dealer blackjack, roulette, baccarat and game shows.
Licensed poker sites, cash games and tournaments.
The best real money casino apps for iPhone and Android.
$1 and $5 deposit casino Ontario →
Low minimum deposit casinos for small budgets.
How old you must be to gamble online and in casinos.
Sports betting
Licensed Ontario sportsbooks and betting sites compared.
The best sports betting apps for mobile bettors.
Ontario sports betting bonus →
Bet credits, odds boosts and sportsbook promos explained.
Land-based casinos
Every major land-based casino in the province.
Casinos in and around Toronto, from slots halls to resorts.
What to expect at the casinos in Niagara Falls.
Ottawa Casino FAQ
Is there a casino in Ottawa?
Yes. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, on Albion Road in the south end, is the city’s casino. It opened as a full resort on July 3, 2025, on the site of the former Rideau Carleton Casino.
Does the Ottawa casino have a hotel?
Yes. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa has a 150-room hotel, including 22 suites.
What is the best casino in Ottawa?
On the Ontario side, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa is the only casino and the main entertainment resort. Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau is the other major option nearby.
How old do you have to be to go to the casino in Ottawa?
You must be 19 or older to enter the gaming floor in Ottawa. The Gatineau casino in Quebec has an 18+ age limit.
Is there a casino near Ottawa?
Yes. Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau is about 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa, and Shorelines casinos in Gananoque, Belleville and Peterborough are along Highway 401.
What shows are at the Ottawa casino?
Hard Rock Live, the 1,800-seat venue at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, hosts concerts, comedy, boxing and other events. Check the venue’s schedule for current shows.
Can I play online casino games in Ottawa?
Yes, at licensed Ontario online casinos, as long as you are 19 or older and physically in Ontario. Real money play is blocked if you are on the Gatineau side of the river.
Is the Ottawa casino the same as Rideau Carleton Casino?
It is on the same site. Rideau Carleton Casino was redeveloped and reopened as Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa in July 2025, and harness racing continues at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
19+Gambling is for Ontario residents aged 19 and over. Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, free and confidential help is available 24/7: ConnexOntario — 1-866-531-2600. This site contains affiliate links — we may earn a commission when you click through, at no extra cost to you. Commissions never influence our ratings.