River Cree Resort & Casino in Enoch

Getting there without a city bus

River Cree is south of Whitemud Drive and west of Winterburn Road. Edmonton Transit buses and trains don't go there, because ETS serves only the city and the airport. That leaves a car, a taxi or rideshare, or the resort's free shuttle.

The shuttle runs every 30 minutes between West Edmonton Mall and the resort, for River Cree guests. Its timetable isn't posted online, so call the Casino Players Club at 780-930-2562 for times. You can reach the mall on ETS. After midnight, Route 2 Owl buses leave the mall for Clareview until about 2:30 a.m. Check that the shuttle is still running before you count on that late connection.

By car, the resort is about 7 km from West Edmonton Mall, roughly 11 minutes when traffic is light. Parking and valet are both free for casino guests, with valet from 9:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily. More on routes is in our getting-there guide.

Owned by Enoch Cree Nation

River Cree opened in October 2006 as a partnership. Enoch Cree Nation bought out Paragon Gaming in 2014 and Marriott in 2018, and it is now the sole owner.

As a host First Nation casino, it also feeds the First Nations Development Fund. That fund gets 40% of slot revenue at these casinos. Three-quarters of the fund goes to host Nations such as Enoch, and a quarter to Alberta's 41 non-host First Nations.

More than a gaming floor

River Cree has more than 1,600 slot machines, and most of the gaming is on a smoke-free main floor. Embers, by the north entrance, is a separate smoke-friendly gaming area. Live tables deal from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Poker players get a 14-table room with its own bar, an enclosed smoke room and food brought to the table. It runs 24 hours from Thursday to Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. on other days.

Concerts happen in The Venue, a hall for up to 2,500 people depending on the setup. Every show there is 18+.

For an overnight stay, the hotel has 249 rooms, including 11 suites, with a pool, a whirlpool and a fitness centre. A new hotel tower is due to open in July 2027.

River Cree runs its own free Players Club and also takes part in Winner's Edge.

Food on site and nearby

• Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen: the first in Canada, open daily from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Alongside Beef Wellington, the menu has dishes unique to this location, such as Baked Bannock and Elk Ragout.
• Tap 25 Sports Bar: food daily from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m.
• River Cree Eats: take-away, 5:30 p.m. to midnight from Thursday to Sunday and on show nights.
• Centre Bar on the main floor and Onyx in Embers: both 18+, open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Off the property, Fort Edmonton Park, about 12 km east by road, covers Edmonton's past and includes an Indigenous Peoples Experience on First Nations and Métis history. Its hours change with the season, so check before you go.

What visitors talk about

The buffet at The Kitchen divides opinion. Some visitors like the variety, with crab legs, seafood and a Sunday omelet bar. Others mention cold or wilted food at holiday and special-event buffets, and question the price.

Concert nights get busy. Restaurants fill, service before a show slows, and drinks take a while to reach the machines and tables. Several visitors find ordering at a bar quicker.

Visitors describe the floor as lively, with plenty of slots and tables. Parking is mostly called plentiful, though the lot can fill at busy times. One winter visitor found the lot icy.

Hours by day

Edmonton time, as the casino publishes its hours: 24/7. Holiday hours can differ.

Questions