Updated November 11, 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 11, 2026
In July 2025 the old Rideau Carleton Casino reopened as Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, Canada’s first fully integrated Hard Rock resort, and the Ottawa casino scene changed with it. This guide covers the Ottawa casino in detail (the hotel, the gaming floor and Hard Rock Live), compares it with the Gatineau casino across the river, and explains how Ottawa players can play legally online.
The toplist above is for online casinos you can play anywhere in Ontario, including from home in Ottawa. Keep reading for the land-based Ottawa casino, or see our main online casino Ontario guide to compare 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. You’ll find it on Albion Road in the south end, on the Rideau Carleton Raceway site. 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 just like every other Ontario casino.
On the other side of the Ottawa River, Gatineau has its own casino, Casino du Lac-Leamy, run by Loto-Québec. Being in Quebec, it follows Quebec’s rules, including an 18+ age limit instead of Ontario’s 19+.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa
The redevelopment cost roughly C$350 million and turned the raceway casino into a resort of about 150,000 square feet. Plans for the expanded casino list around 1,500 slot machines, about 40 live table games, a sportsbook, high-limit gaming and a separate baccarat room. Live harness racing still runs at Rideau Carleton Raceway on the same site.
Stay
The Ottawa casino hotel
A 150-room Hard Rock Hotel with 22 suites, the only real casino hotel in the city 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.
If you’re looking for an Ottawa casino hotel, or a night out with dinner and a show, this is now the obvious pick. The resort also has more than 120 pieces of music memorabilia on display, many of them from Canadian artists.
Getting to the Ottawa Casino
● Location: Albion Road in Ottawa’s south end, about 20–25 minutes’ drive from downtown in normal traffic.
● By car: there’s on-site parking. Expect it to be busier on Hard Rock Live show nights.
● By transit: OC Transpo routes serve the south end. Check current routes and late-night service before you go.
● 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 one of Quebec’s largest casinos. Loto-Québec runs it, and it has an attached hotel, the Hilton Lac-Leamy, plus the Théâtre du Casino for concerts and shows. If you’re searching for a hotel casino Gatineau visitors use, or a casino Gatineau spectacle, this is the place.
The age gap trips up a lot of visitors. At 18 you can get into 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 about 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. Visitors can use a passport.
3. Join the casino’s free rewards program on your first visit.
4. Check the Hard Rock Live schedule. Big shows mean a busier floor and fuller 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 has a sportsbook for betting in person, and lottery retailers around the city sell OLG’s Proline. Online, licensed Ontario sportsbooks work anywhere in Ottawa for bettors 19 and over. Senators, Redblacks and Ottawa Charge fans will find markets on most regulated sites, and our guide to sports betting in Ontario compares them.
Ottawa Casino Online: Playing From Home
Ottawa residents can play at licensed Ontario online casinos anywhere in the city, provided they’re 19 or older and physically in Ontario. One local catch: on the Gatineau side of the river, Ontario online casinos will block real money play because you’re 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 the floor, and OLG runs a self-exclusion program for Ontario’s land-based venues. Online, BetGuard lets you self-exclude from every regulated gaming site in Ontario at once. Quebec has 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.