The folks at Pickering Casino Resort are likely still finding confetti from their splashy official grand opening celebration last Wednesday night. Offering a multi-faceted entertainment venue and hotel – complete with a $500 million dollar price tag – the sprawling facility soft-launched in July 2021, before having to close its doors thanks to pandemic restrictions. The venue reopened with another soft launch this past January. Located east of Toronto, the shiny new spot features a 96,000-square-foot casino, a 2,500-seat concert arena, nine dining venues, and a 275-room hotel.
The official launch celebration began with a champagne-filled cocktail reception in the main lobby, followed by a few words from Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe, Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario Gaming President and CEO Duncan Hannay, and Great Canadian Entertainment CEO Matthew Anfinson. Hannay praised the resort as “the most modern casino in Ontario.”
After the speeches, there was a stunning explosion of confetti in lieu of an official ribbon cutting, which produced what seemed like a million pieces of confetti that found their way through the venue as the night went on.
After dinner in the venue’s PIK event space, we hit the casino. Bustling, but not too crowded, the casino offered a mini Vegas vibe, complete with top-of-the-line gaming technology. It features 2,200 slot machines, over 90 live table games (some with DJ-like sound systems), and 140 live dealer stadium gaming terminals. We enjoyed a drink at the lively bar at the Great Canadian Sportsbook, a lounge within the casino that plays live and international sporting events on massive TVs.
We were then treated to a concert by legendary Canadian superstar Bryan Adams. The nostalgia-filled concert transported guests back to Bryan Adams’ heyday, with concert-goers singing along to all of his beloved hits – and he made sure to play all of the favourites, accompanied by impressive video as a backdrop. The venue offers top-notch sound systems for the famous faces that will grace its stage, but a more intimate feel than Toronto’s massive concert facilities, like Scotiabank Arena and Budweiser Stage.
A now 62-year-old Adams sounded as good as ever and called out Blue Jays players Danny Jansen, Daulton Varsho and Brandon Belt in the audience, who presented him with an “Adams 23” Blue Jays jersey prior to the show.
After the wining, dining, nostalgia fix (thanks, Bryan), and a little gambling it was time to retreat to the super comfy bed that awaited in our spacious hotel room upstairs. The hotel’s guest rooms range from 388 square feet to 775 square feet, including 33 elegant and spacious suites with separate living spaces and 22 accessible rooms with thoughtful and convenient adjustments. Some of the rooms are complete with sweeping views of Lake Ontario. The hotel features a gym, and a sauna and indoor wave pool(!) are in the works. Sadly, they weren’t quite ready during our visit. A stay here includes free Wi-Fi and complimentary enclosed parking.
Guests can enjoy dining concepts that range from quick service and fast casual to fine dining. This includes the freshly opened Copperhorn Meet House fine dining steakhouse, gastro pub CA·SU·AL, legendary Hong Kong and Vancouver favourite Sun Sui Wah, Italian spot ZIOs, and Rock House Grill, which serves local café favourites. There’s even a Starbucks, something much appreciated the morning after before the drive back into the city.
So, if you’re in the market for an overnight stay where all the fun is in one spot, Pickering Casino Resort offers a new convenient, stimulation-filled option.
Upcoming programming includes Queen (May 20), Jann Arden (June 24), and Tina Turner (July 14).