Names over time
Metro Vancouver casino names over time
Every point on this timeline is a dated fact with a source; undated names stay off. Scroll or swipe from the track that opened in 1889 as East Park to the casino sales of 2026.
- 18891889East Park opens: the track at HastingsHastings Casino
- 19761976Harness racing begins at Fraser DownsElements Casino Surrey
- 1996Jan. 1996Gateway moves its New Westminster casino within the Royal Towers HotelStarlight Casino New Westminster
- 1996Nov. 1996Gateway’s Burnaby casino opens in a parkadeGrand Villa Casino Burnaby
- 1999Oct. 6, 1999Royal City Star riverboat casino beginsStarlight Casino New Westminster
- 2001Oct. 13, 2001Casino Coquitlam opensGreat Canadian Casino Vancouver
- 20042004Great Canadian takes the Hastings leaseHastings Casino
- 2004June 25, 2004River Rock opensRiver Rock Casino Resort
- 2005May 2005Cascades Casino opens in LangleyCascades Casino Langley
- 2005Nov. 2005The casino at Fraser Downs opensElements Casino Surrey
- 20052005/2006Renamed Boulevard CasinoGreat Canadian Casino Vancouver
- 2006Mar. 23, 2006Starlight breaks groundStarlight Casino New Westminster
- 20072007Starlight Casino opensStarlight Casino New Westminster
- 2007Dec. 9, 2007Royal City Star closes its casinoStarlight Casino New Westminster
- 20082008Grand Villa Casino opensGrand Villa Casino Burnaby
- 2011Apr. 2011Council approves moving Edgewater’s licenceParq Casino
- 2013Dec. 20, 2013Hard Rock Casino Vancouver opensGreat Canadian Casino Vancouver
- 2014Dec. 2014Parq breaks groundParq Casino
- 2015Dec. 2015Fraser Downs Racetrack Casino reopens as ElementsElements Casino Surrey
- 2017Sept. 29, 2017Parq opens; Edgewater’s staff move overParq Casino
- 2018Early 2018Summit Theatre becomes a bingo hallCascades Casino Langley
- 2019Feb. 2019Paragon sells its Parq stake to PBC GroupParq Casino
- 2022Sept. 29, 2022Cascades Casino Delta opensCascades Casino Delta
- 2023Dec. 2023Renamed Great Canadian Casino VancouverGreat Canadian Casino Vancouver
- 2025Aug. 15, 2025Fraser Downs track closesElements Casino Surrey
- 2025Nov. 7, 2025Hastings sale agreement signedHastings Casino
- 2025Dec. 5, 2025Racing at Hastings endsHastings Casino
- 2026Mar. 9, 2026Elements sale agreedElements Casino Surrey
- 2026May 5, 2026Coquitlam casino to PetroglyphGreat Canadian Casino Vancouver
- 2026June 16, 2026River Rock to Petroglyph and Musqueam CapitalRiver Rock Casino Resort
Scroll sideways with the wheel, a finger or the arrow keys; each point opens the page of its casino.
The track years
1889: the racetrack at Hastings opens for business as East Park. It was long known as Exhibition Park. 2004: Great Canadian acquires the lease of the city-owned track at Hastings Park.
December 5, 2025: thoroughbred racing at Hastings ends with immediate effect, after a run that began in 1889. The last live race had been run on October 19, 2025. Hastings Casino and its simulcast racebook continue. The page Hastings since the last race has the full account.
The building years
1996 brings two moves for Gateway. In January it moves its New Westminster casino out of the Royal Towers Hotel's top floor. The new premises are larger, in the same hotel. In November it stops running its Maple Ridge casino and opens its Burnaby operation. It occupies the second floor of the parkade across from the current Grand Villa Casino Burnaby.
October 6, 1999: the Royal City Star, a riverboat once the Queen of New Orleans, begins casino operations in New Westminster. October 13, 2001: Great Canadian opens Casino Coquitlam. June 25, 2004: River Rock Casino Resort first opens to the public in Richmond, on the site of the former Bridgepoint Market.
May 2005: Gateway opens Cascades Casino Langley. November 2005: the casino at the Surrey track opens its doors; it is now Elements Casino Surrey. Then, in 2005/2006, Casino Coquitlam is renamed Boulevard Casino after a $105 million expansion.
2007: Starlight Casino New Westminster opens. Ground had been broken on March 23, 2006, for the $100 million project. On December 9, 2007, the Royal City Star closes its casino and the operation moves ashore. 2008: Grand Villa opens in Burnaby.
The renaming years
December 20, 2013: the Coquitlam casino, now Great Canadian Casino Vancouver, holds its grand opening as Hard Rock Casino Vancouver. It is the first Hard Rock casino in Canada. 2015: the former Fraser Downs Racetrack Casino, now Elements Casino Surrey, reopens as Elements Casino after a six-month, $11 million renovation. The reopening is reported on December 19, 2015.
September 29, 2017, at 11 p.m. Pacific time: Parq Vancouver, home of Parq Casino, officially opens next to BC Place. It replaces the temporary Edgewater Casino, which Paragon Gaming ran at Enterprise Hall in the Plaza of Nations. All Edgewater employees move to Parq.
Early 2018: the 420-seat Summit Theatre at Cascades Casino Langley closes and becomes a bingo hall. September 29, 2022: Cascades Casino Delta opens on Highway 17A, on the same calendar date as Parq's opening. December 2023: the Coquitlam casino is renamed Great Canadian Casino Vancouver. That is its fourth name since 2001.
The selling years
August 15, 2025: the Fraser Downs track in Surrey closes abruptly after the City of Surrey ends the lease. December 5, 2025: thoroughbred racing at Hastings ends, run there since 1889.
May 5, 2026: Petroglyph Development Group, owned by Snuneymuxw First Nation, takes over ownership and operation of Great Canadian Casino Vancouver. It uses the Great Canadian name under a limited licence. June 16, 2026: River Rock Casino Resort passes jointly to Petroglyph Development Group and Musqueam Capital Corp of the Musqueam Indian Band.
November 7, 2025: Tsleil-Waututh Nation signs a definitive agreement to buy the casino part of Hastings Casino. On March 9, 2026, Great Canadian agreed to sell Elements Casino Surrey to SE-MI-AH-MU Development Corporation of Semiahmoo First Nation. The page Casinos that changed hands sets out each deal and its dates.
Questions
Which point on the timeline is dated earliest?
The earliest point belongs to the racetrack at Hastings, which opened for business in 1889 as East Park and was long known as Exhibition Park. No other point on the timeline is dated earlier.
Which of the nine casinos opened most recently?
Cascades Casino Delta, which opened on September 29, 2022. It is the last opening on the timeline.
Which casino has changed its name most often?
Great Canadian Casino Vancouver in Coquitlam, with four names since 2001. It opened as Casino Coquitlam and became Boulevard Casino in 2005/2006. Hard Rock Casino Vancouver followed in 2013. December 2023 brought the current name.