Red Deer Resort & Casino has completed the expansion of its new casino, which officially opened its doors last Friday, Sept. 8.

Located in the heart of Downtown Red Deer, the casino offers a wide range of gaming options such as slot machines, table games, and a poker room, and is set to serve as a “major entertainment destination for residents and tourists alike”, with its design paying tribute to the cultural heritage of the O’Chiese First Nation.

Upgrades to the hotel and the expansion of the casino – which has more than 38,000 square feet of play space – are expected to increase employment by up to 20% with an increased requirement for dealers, servers and housekeeping professionals.

“We look forward to welcoming guests to Red Deer Resort & Casino and providing them with a world class entertainment experience,” said Adrian Strawberry, Hotel Operations Manager, O’Chiese Hospitality.

“We have worked tirelessly to bring this project to fruition and we cannot wait for you to experience it.”

The O’Chiese Business and Investment Centre, owners of Red Deer Resort & Casino, purchased the hotel property in 2020 to ‘diversify its businesses and investments’, with the aim of relocating the O’Chiese-owned Jackpot Casino from Red Deer’s downtown to the site’s event centre.

Issues arose earlier this year, though, when the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) denied an application to build a large on-site event centre citing ‘insufficient onsite parking to accommodate all of the intensified uses’.

But, following an appeal, it was ruled that a new two-storey event centre could be built on the site of two former nightclubs, and thus construction could go ahead.

“The completion of the casino is a major milestone for us and the City of Red Deer,” added George Yammine, CEO, O’Chiese Business and Investment Center.

“The casino will be a key driver of tourism and economic growth in the region, becoming a hub for entertainment for the region and beyond.”