Skip to content
Casino Getaways Canada

Rama (Orillia), Ontario · minimum age 19+

Casino Rama Resort: our review

Updated · facts checked

Come for the 5,000-seat Entertainment Centre, stay at a resort being rebuilt around you: Casino Rama, on Rama First Nation land outside Orillia, has had rooms under renovation since 2025, opened a ground-floor spa, and added three restaurants including Gateway's Atlas Steak and Fish.

  • Rooms & views7.5
  • Casino floor8.5
  • Dining8.5
  • Shows & events10.0
  • Pool, spa & fitness8.0
  • Getting there6.0

Ideal for: Concert getaways from the GTA, or a cottage-country weekend with a casino attached.
Think twice if: You don't drive — Orillia is roughly two hours north of Toronto.

The short version

The casino dates from July 1996 and stands on Rama First Nation land outside Orillia. Its operator, Gateway Casinos, joined OLG and Rama First Nation in November 2024 to announce a major overhaul: better rooms, an expanded spa and gym, new places to eat and a makeover of the casino itself. Six months later, in May 2025, crews were renovating rooms from level two up, and the new spa on the ground floor had opened.

Which room to book

There are 289 rooms. Rama hasn't put out full specs for the redone ones, so the useful question at booking is simple: which floors are finished? The answer decides whether you sleep in a renovated room or an old one.

Downtime

Downstairs, the new spa has saunas and steam rooms; upstairs on level three, the pool is where it always was. A bigger fitness centre is part of the plan too.

Showtime

Over 5,000 seats make the Entertainment Centre one of the biggest casino venues in Canada. The late-2026 line-up included Colin James, Jesse Cook, the Celtic Tenors and the Righteous Brothers, and recent announcements priced tickets between roughly $25 and $89.

At the tables

The operator doesn't publish its own counts. Wikipedia describes a 192,000 sq ft floor with roughly 1,800 slots and 50 table games, so treat those numbers as estimates. In May 2025 CTV reported a new look on the floor and upgraded slot machines. The minimum age in Ontario is 19.

Eating in

Three openings in little over a year changed how Rama eats. First, in fall 2024, came Chow Lucky Noodle Bar, with bowls, soups and food from the wok. In May 2025 MATCH Eatery and Public House took a spot by the main rotunda. Then in November 2025 Gateway brought its top steak-and-seafood brand to Ontario for the first time: Atlas Steak and Fish at St. Germain's, named in memory of George St. Germain, a late chief of Rama First Nation. There's a Tim Hortons too.

Getting in, and getting out

Allow two hours from Toronto via Highway 400. When you're not at the casino: the beach and gardens at Couchiching Beach Park, the Leacock Museum National Historic Site, and Hardwood Ski and Bike, which runs in both winter and summer.

The getaway verdict

Ontario's best lake-plus-concert weekend. Book once the renovation has reached your floor, reserve Atlas for dinner, and get tickets for whoever's headlining — the show is why most guests drive up.

Good to know before you book

Is there construction at Casino Rama?

Yes. Gateway announced a refurbishment in November 2024 covering the gaming floor, the hotel rooms, new restaurants and a new spa and fitness area; some parts opened in 2024 and others in 2025.

How far is Casino Rama from Toronto?

Plan on about two hours' drive north via Highway 400 to Orillia.

What's the capacity of the Casino Rama Entertainment Centre?

Over 5,000 seats.

Where our facts come from

Fact check: October 23, 2026, against the sources above. Hotels change rates, fees and opening hours without warning, so double-check with the property before you book. Spotted an error? Email us. Next stop: more hotels in Casino Hotels in Ontario, or the top 10 ranking.