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Northern Casino Resorts

Richmond, British Columbia · entry 19+

River Rock Casino Resort: our review

Last revised · facts verified

If you're arriving by plane and don't want a car, River Rock is the answer: its Canada Line station is next door, with YVR seven minutes up the line and downtown Vancouver eighteen. Behind that are 396 rooms (some of the suites are genuinely large), the first Gordon Ramsay Steak in Canada, a water-slide pool and a riverfront marina.

  • Rooms & views8.5
  • Casino floor8.0
  • Dining9.0
  • Shows & events7.5
  • Pool, spa & fitness8.5
  • Getting there10.0

Go if: Travellers using YVR, food-led weekends and anyone happy to leave the car at home.
Think twice if: You want a stadium-scale gig; the showroom tops out at 965 seats.

The case for River Rock

Opened in 2004 on the Fraser in Richmond, River Rock celebrated two decades with upgrades, the most visible being Gordon Ramsay Steak, the chef's first fine-dining room in the country. Ownership passed in June 2026, when Great Canadian Entertainment closed its sale of the resort to a First Nations-led partnership. What matters most to a visitor, though, is the station: Bridgeport, on the Canada Line, is right next to the hotel.

Where you'll sleep

Two towers, 396 rooms. The Hotel Tower keeps things simple: King, Two Queen or accessible King, each 325 square feet. The Casino Tower, over the sky bridge, is where the space is. One- and two-bedroom suites run 525 to 650 square feet; Executive suites drop the lounge down a step; Penthouses measure 1,000 to 1,200 square feet with the Fraser spread out below; and the Presidential Suite, at 2,800 square feet, adds fireplaces and a starlight ceiling over the bed. Every room has blackout curtains, a mini fridge, a coffee maker and a safe. Nobody under 19 can check in.

Eating well

This is the resort's best category. At Gordon Ramsay Steak, beef is dry-aged for 28 days, and a new indoor-outdoor area faces the marina. Dim sum (served 10 am to 3 pm) and Chinese seafood are the business of Sea Harbour. In 2026 KOI, a sushi concept from the Kuns Omakase team, replaced Miku. Late eaters have Chopsticks Noodlehouse until 3 am, and burgers come from Rock House. Weekends bring the Grand Weekend Dinner Buffet in The Chairman's Room, Friday through Sunday 4 to 9 pm, priced at $85 per adult, $80 per senior and $35 per child, plus Sunday brunch 9 am to 3 pm. Privé Bar pours every day, 11 am to 2 am.

Downtime

Swim any day from 6 am to 10 pm; the pool has a water slide. Absolute Spa, on the second level, offers six treatment rooms between 10 am and 6 pm. You'll also find a fitness centre, and a marina on the river itself.

Gaming and the showroom

Gaming runs 24 hours and is 19+, with a poker room and a racebook on site. Slot and table counts aren't published on River Rock's website, so we leave them blank rather than guess. Loyalty is through Encore Rewards, the card used at B.C. casinos generally. With 965 seats, The Show Theatre suits comedians and tribute bands, not stadium headliners.

Extra charges and pets

A resort fee of $19.99 per room per day is added, and it includes parking in the West Lot, roughly a five-minute walk to the lobby. Dogs and other pets pay $35 each nightly, capped at three nights, and come with a bed and bowls provided by the hotel.

Our take

If your trip starts or ends at YVR, nothing in Canada beats it for convenience, and the restaurants make it worth a visit even without a flight. Choose it when the meal is the event; for a big-name concert, the larger stages elsewhere will serve you better.

Before you book: common questions

How do you get to River Rock from Vancouver airport?

Take the Canada Line from YVR to Bridgeport station, right beside the resort. The resort puts the ride at about 7 minutes.

Does River Rock have a weekend buffet?

Yes, the Grand Weekend Dinner Buffet in The Chairman's Room, 4 to 9 pm Friday through Sunday, plus Sunday brunch.

What does River Rock charge for pets?

$35 per pet per night, with the charge capped at three nights.

Where these facts come from

Fact check: October 23, 2026, against the sources above. Hotels change rates, fees and hours without warning, so confirm anything important directly before you book. If a detail here has gone stale, email us. Next stop: Casino Hotels in British Columbia, or our full ranking.