Location
218 18 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta T2G 1L1
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Elbow River Casino Calgary
Elbow River Casino is a Calgary gaming and entertainment venue at 218 18 Avenue SE, close to the Stampede grounds, Victoria Park CTrain Station, and the 17th Avenue entertainment district. The casino offers more than 600 slot machines, table games, live poker, off-track betting, dining, and entertainment. It is open 7 days a week, from 9:30 AM to 3:00 AM.
Background
| Feature | Current information |
|---|---|
| Location | 218 18 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta T2G 1L1 |
| Casino hours | 9:30 AM–3:00 AM, seven days a week |
| Gaming | 600+ slots, table games, poker and off-track betting |
| Age requirement | 18+ to enter an Alberta gaming facility |
| Loyalty programme | Winner’s Edge |
| Parking | Secure, air-conditioned underground parking |
| Entertainment | Live music, Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club and sports viewing |
| Dining | Sammy’s Sports Bar, Jester’s Deli and other food options |
The casino operates within Alberta’s charitable gaming model. According to its own description, net proceeds are shared with licensed charitable organizations, which reinvest their portion into Calgary community projects and services.
What Makes Elbow River Casino Different
Unlike a destination resort with its own hotel, Elbow River focuses on combining gaming, food, and entertainment in a central Calgary location. It sits near the Red Mile, with Victoria Park CTrain Station and the Stampede grounds only a short walk away.
Gaming Floor
The casino has more than 600 slot machines, ranging from 1¢ to $5 denominations. The selection includes reel slots, video slots, video poker, video blackjack, roulette and keno.
Progressive games include
- Alberta Gold
- American Original
- Diamond Millions
- Several Jackpot Junction machines
The table-game selection includes
- Baccarat
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Ultimate Texas Hold’em
- Tile Pai Gow
For example, Ultimate Texas Hold’em currently lists Ante/Blind limits of 5–100 and Trips bets of 5–25.
Off-Track Betting
Horse-racing fans have another reason to visit. Elbow River promotes its off-track betting facility and racing theatre as a major Calgary destination for following races from different tracks.
Elbow River Casino Poker Room
The Elbow River Casino poker room offers live poker focused on limit Texas Hold’em and limit Omaha.
The Elbow River Casino poker room operates from 10:00 AM to 3:00 AM Sunday through Wednesday and stays open 24 hours Thursday through Saturday. Players can call 403-206-0252 for information or to join the waiting list. Bad Beat Poker Jackpots are also offered.
Food, Entertainment and Parking
Food is a significant part of the property. Sammy’s Sports Bar serves breakfast from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM, its regular menu from 9:30 AM to midnight, and Asian dishes from 4:00 PM to midnight. Jester’s Deli, beside the main entrance, operates daily from 9:30 AM to 2:30 AM. Dim sum is available Friday through Sunday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
The official site also describes the property as having three eateries and mentions buffet dining. Because the current dining page does not publish a separate buffet schedule, visitors looking specifically for an Elbow River Casino buffet should check the current dining information before travelling rather than relying on older buffet listings.
Live bands perform at the Bayou on Friday and Saturday nights, while Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club provides another entertainment option inside the property.
Elbow River Casino Parking
Parking is one of the practical advantages of the property. The casino promotes secure, air-conditioned underground parking, so visitors do not have to leave their vehicle exposed to Calgary's weather while they are inside.
Winner’s Edge Rewards and Offers
Elbow River Casino participates in Winner’s Edge, Alberta's casino loyalty programme. Membership is free, and points can be redeemed for Free Play or contest entries.
| Winner’s Edge feature | Current benefit |
|---|---|
| Free Play | 1,000 points = C$1 |
| Minimum redemption | 1,000 points |
| Maximum daily Free Play redemption | C$1,000 |
| Food & beverage discount | 10% on selected items, excluding alcoholic beverages |
| Contest entries | 50 points = 1 ballot |
Points from regular play expire after 12 months. The programme also gives members access to an online account where they can check their balance and manage their membership.
New Winner’s Edge members can currently qualify for a Welcome Bonus worth up to C$1,000 in Free Play. After joining, members insert their card into an eligible slot or electronic table game and spin the promotional wheel. The maximum prize is 1,000,000 bonus points, and the promotional bonus points must be redeemed within 60 days.
Contact, Reviews and Practical Information
| Contact detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Phone number | 403-289-8880 |
| erc@elbowrivercasino.com | |
| Address | 218 18 Avenue SE, Calgary, AB T2G 1L1 |
| Poker phone | 403-206-0252 |
| Comedy club phone | 403-258-2028 |
| Operating hours | 9:30 AM–3:00 AM daily |
| Job applications | Vacancies are posted through Indeed and other recruitment websites |
The official contact page confirms the main Elbow River Casino phone number, email address, and current hours. It also directs applicants to Indeed or other recruitment sites for Elbow River Casino careers rather than maintaining a separate application portal.
For anyone checking Elbow River Casino reviews, the casino's own website displays visitor comments about food, service, entertainment, and the gaming experience. Third-party reviews can provide a wider range of opinions, but they should be read with the date of the review in mind because hours, restaurants and promotions can change.
Visitors searching for Elbow River Casino photos can also use the official website's property and gaming pages to get a visual impression of the casino, dining areas, and entertainment spaces.
Elbow River Casino Online
Elbow River Casino is a land-based casino, not an online casino operator. There is no official Elbow River online gaming account, casino app, or online deposit system presented on its current website.
That distinction matters because third-party websites may use phrases such as "Elbow River online casino" or promote bonuses under the casino's name. Those offers should not be confused with the Calgary property itself.
For online gambling in Alberta, the regulated provincial platform is separate from Elbow River Casino. The casino's own website focuses on its physical gaming floor, poker room, dining, entertainment, and Winner’s Edge membership.
Who Owns Elbow River Casino?
The answer requires some care because the ownership history is more complicated than the name of a large national casino group might suggest.
Historical sources report that the casino was sold to a Calgary investor group in 2012. Current Elbow River Casino material instead emphasizes its operation within Alberta's charitable gaming model, with net proceeds shared with licensed charitable organizations.
For that reason, I would avoid describing Elbow River as a property owned by a major publicly traded casino corporation unless a current ownership record confirms it. The safer current description is a privately operated Calgary casino operating within Alberta's regulated charitable casino system.
FAQ
The current official Elbow River Casino hours are 9:30 AM to 3:00 AM, seven days a week. The poker room follows a different schedule, operating 10:00 AM–3:00 AM Sunday through Wednesday and 24 hours Thursday through Saturday.
The main Elbow River Casino phone number is 403-289-8880. The poker room can be reached at 403-206-0252, while Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club uses 403-258-2028.
No. Elbow River Casino is a standalone casino and entertainment property rather than a casino resort with an on-site hotel. Several downtown Calgary hotels are within walking distance or a short trip from the venue.
The casino's About page still refers to buffet dining among its food options, but its current Dining page highlights Sammy's Sports Bar and Jester's Deli and does not publish a separate buffet schedule. Visitors looking specifically for a buffet should check the latest restaurant information before visiting.
Yes. The Elbow River Casino poker room offers live limit Texas Hold’em and limit Omaha, with Bad Beat Poker Jackpots also promoted. It is open 10:00 AM–3:00 AM Sunday through Wednesday and 24 hours Thursday through Saturday.
The casino was sold to a Calgary investor group in 2012, according to historical reporting. Current public casino material emphasizes its operation under Alberta's charitable gaming model rather than identifying a major national casino corporation as its owner.
Its central location makes it convenient for visitors staying downtown. It is close to Victoria Park CTrain Station, the Stampede grounds, and the 17th Avenue entertainment district, while underground parking, restaurants, poker, table games, slots, and live entertainment make it possible to spend several hours at the property.