Casino Dene in Alberta
Casino Details
- Route 28 & Townshp Road 622, Cold Lake, AB T9M 1P4, Canada
- Sunday–Thursday 10:00–02:00
- Friday–Saturday 10:00–03:00
- +1 780-594-7900
About Casino Dene in Alberta
Casino Dene operates 7 km south of the City of Cold Lake, on reserve lands of Cold Lake First Nations within Treaty 6 territory in northeast Alberta. The property opened on September 27, 2007, sits roughly 300 km northeast of Edmonton, and serves communities located within a 30 to 45 minute drive. It is owned by Cold Lake First Nation (the Denesuline, or Chipewyan, Tribe) and runs under an agreement with the provincial gaming authority. Guests reach the building along Highway 28, beside a gas station and convenience store, with on-site parking available. The reception line is +1 780-594-0989, and the venue carries the Cold Lake postal code T9M 1P4.
Day | Opening | Closing |
Sunday | 10:00 a.m. | 2:00 a.m. |
Monday–Wednesday | 10:00 a.m. | 1:00 a.m. |
Thursday–Saturday | 10:00 a.m. | 3:00 a.m. |
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Gaming Floor and How to Start Playing
The floor combines 250 slot machines with a separate non-smoking VLT lounge and a dedicated table games pit. To start, a visitor arrives once slots open at 10:00 a.m., selects a machine by coin denomination, loads cash or a printed voucher (ticket-in/ticket-out), then confirms the bet line before spinning. Cash-out tickets are redeemed at the cashier desk or a self-service ticket kiosk. Both non-smoking and smoking designated zones are laid out across the slot area.
Slot Machines and VLTs
Slot denominations span 1 cent, $1, and $5 cabinets, letting players match stakes to their planned spend. The non-smoking VLT lounge runs specific titles on Alberta’s regulated terminal network:
- Power Kenom Loaded 7’s (classic-style reel terminal)
- Triple Ace Poker (video poker terminal)
Jackpot Party Bejeweled (feature-based VLT)
To play a VLT, a guest takes any open seat, inserts CAD, taps the on-screen game, then uses the touch panel to set active lines and credits per spin.
Table Games and Betting Limits
The pit holds 10 table games and opens every day at 4:00 p.m., with maximum betting limits up to $100 CAD per hand. Available games are Roulette, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Blackjack, and Texas Hold’em. To join, a player buys chips at the table from the dealer, places wagers inside the marked betting boxes, then follows the posted minimum for that table.
Poker Tournaments Schedule
Organized poker at Casino Dene in Alberta follows a fixed weekly rotation rather than running on demand. Tournaments are held every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, featuring formats such as Ultimate Texas Hold’em and Chase the Flush. Entrants should arrive before the pit opens at 4:00 p.m. to register, settle the buy-in at the cashier, then receive a seat assignment. Current brackets and start times are posted on the venue’s events page, which players check before travelling.
Dining at Casino Dene
Two food outlets serve the property, so guests can eat without leaving the gaming environment. The Aurora Bar and Lounge handles full-menu service and evening entertainment, while the River Ridge Café opens daily at 10:00 a.m. for casual meals. Daily food and beverage specials rotate through the week, and complimentary coffee is offered on the casino floor. The schedule below lists the recurring promotions guests can plan around.
Day | Promotion | Service Window |
Wednesday | Wing Night | Evening |
Friday | Prime Rib | 5:00–9:00 p.m. |
Sunday | Wing Night and Karaoke | Evening |
Daily | Happy hour and floor coffee | During open hours |
Aurora Bar and Lounge
Following a renovation, the former restaurant and conference space was rebuilt as a sports-bar-themed area with a central bar, a pool table section, multiple TV screens, and food service that flows onto the casino floor. To order, guests seat themselves, review the printed menu or the daily board, then pay by card or cash at the bar or table. The lounge also functions as the stage area for weekend live music.
River Ridge Café and Daily Specials
The River Ridge Café operates from 10:00 a.m. each day and lists weekend breakfast options alongside standard items such as the steak sandwich and baby back ribs. Guests place orders at the counter or table and may request the posted daily promotion when ordering.
Hotel Dene & Conference Centre
Overnight visitors stay at Hotel Dene & Conference Centre, a full-service, 2SLGBTQ+ friendly hotel positioned along Highway 28 directly across the parking lot from the casino. The property provides complimentary high-speed WiFi throughout, semi-private gathering pods fitted with individual TV screens and power outlets, plus the onsite BirchBark Bistro serving free hot breakfast from 6:00 a.m.
Booking a Room
To reserve, a guest selects “Book a Room” on the hotel page, sets check-in and check-out dates, chooses a room type, then confirms with payment in CAD. Loyalty members apply accommodation discounts at this step before submitting. Dinner is served next door at Casino Dene every evening, with added weekday specials.
Loyalty Program and Guest Services
- Complimentary coffee on the casino floor
- Security escort to vehicles on request
- Ample on-site parking
- Customer service support, plus prizes and giveaways
| Category | Detail |
| Slot machines | 250 cabinets (1¢, $1, $5) |
| VLT lounge | Non-smoking, 3 listed titles |
| Table games | 10 tables, open 4:00 p.m., max $100 CAD |
| Poker tournaments | Thursday to Sunday |
Events, Entertainment, and Giveaways
Free live entertainment takes the stage every weekend, presenting local bands with no ticket required for entry. Monthly promotions and giveaways run through the year, with prizes that have included side-by-side (SXS) vehicles, ATVs, and cash awards. To attend, guests arrive during weekend operating hours and check the events page for that month’s lineup and draw dates. Sunday sessions add karaoke after the dining service.
Community Programs and Responsible Play
The venue runs a Community Support Bottle Program that directs returnable container proceeds to a local non-profit, averaging $400 to $700 per cycle and rotating every three to four weeks. Non-profit organizations apply through the online or downloadable form, after which one applicant is selected per cycle. The venue also maintains player-protection measures aligned with Alberta gaming standards:
- Set personal time and spending limits before play
- Treat winnings as entertainment value, not income
- Take regular breaks and avoid chasing losses
- Request self-exclusion or support details at the cashier
Anyone seeking assistance with gambling habits can ask floor or cashier staff, who provide details on provincial support resources for players across Alberta.