At the door
First minutes inside Rivers Casino
The first ten minutes inside are the strangest part of any first visit, mostly because nobody hands you a map at the door. Here is what sits where at Rivers Casino and when each part opens, so nothing catches you off guard.
Written by the Front Steps crewChecked October 14, 2026
Start at Guest Services
Guest Services is the first stop, and the right place for any question you feel silly asking. It is also where a Winner's Edge card is picked up. That is the loyalty card AGLC runs across Alberta. You show government ID, you must be 18 or older, and people enrolled in self-exclusion cannot be members.
To ask something before you go, call the main line at (780) 790-9739. Extension 102 reaches Guest Services, 103 the slot manager, 104 the table games manager, 105 the pit and 109 the poker room. The lounge manager sits on 118. Once inside, the casino says any staff member can help a guest who needs it. A GameSense Information Centre is on site as well, part of AGLC's responsible gambling program.
What is open when you walk in
Not everything starts at once. Slot machines open at 9:30 a.m. and run until 3 a.m. after Sunday to Thursday, and until 4 a.m. after Friday and Saturday. The lounge keeps 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day. Live tables, the ones with a real dealer, start Monday to Wednesday at 4 p.m. and Thursday to Sunday at 2 p.m.
Poker cash games get going at 6 p.m. each night in a room of 3 tables. So a morning visit is slots and breakfast. An evening visit has everything running, and all the times here are Mountain time.
Holiday hours are not posted, so before a holiday visit call Guest Services at extension 102. Fixed poker room hours are not posted either; the casino asks players to phone extension 105.
The week, part by part
| Day | Slots | Live tables | Lounge | Breakfast mains | Lunch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. | 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 9:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. | 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 9:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. | 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Thursday | 9:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. | 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Friday | 9:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. | 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Saturday | 9:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. | 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Sunday | 9:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. | 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
Who runs the place
Rivers Casino runs on Alberta's charity casino model, and it says it has helped more than 300 registered charities raise funds. In June 2026 Gamehost Inc., the company behind it, became part of PURE Casino Entertainment. The casino tells guests that nothing changes for them: the name, the faces and the service stay as before.
The casino places itself in the very middle of Fort McMurray, where the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers meet. Its own site title says it has been at the heart of the city since 1978.
Questions from first-timers
Can you just walk around without playing?
The entry rule in Alberta is about age: you must be 18 to enter a casino. Staff must ask for valid government-issued photo ID from anyone who looks younger than 25, so bring it along. For anything else about the floor, Guest Services answers on extension 102.
Are the tables running at noon on a Tuesday?
They are not running at noon. On Tuesday the live tables open at 4 p.m. and close at 2 a.m. the following morning. Slot machines and the lounge open at 9:30 a.m.
Who can help if a machine is confusing?
The casino says any staff member can help a guest who needs it, so ask the nearest one. For a question before your visit, the slot manager is on extension 103 at (780) 790-9739.