A guide for the harbour city
Nanaimo Casino Online: a Harbour Chart
The Nanaimo Casino Chart is an independent guide to Casino Nanaimo at 620 Terminal Ave, downtown, a short way from the harbour. The first tool below shows what is open at the hour you choose.
By the Chart editorsChecked October 13, 2026
What is lit at this hour
Pacific time · open closed close not posted
- Casino floor and slotsSunday to Thursday 10 am to 1 am; Friday and Saturday 10 am to 2 am
- Live table gamesMonday to Thursday 4 pm to midnight; Friday and Saturday 11 am to 2 am; Sunday 11 am to midnight
- Electronic tables (Action Arena)from noon every day; closing time not posted
- Poker roomMonday to Thursday 5 pm to midnight; Friday and Saturday noon to 2 am; Sunday noon to midnight
- The Well Public HouseMonday to Thursday 10 am to midnight; Friday and Saturday 10 am to 2 am; Sunday 10 am to midnight
Hours as the casino posts them; holiday hours are not published.
Where the casino sits
Casino Nanaimo is at 620 Terminal Ave, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5E2, in downtown Nanaimo. It stands next to BC Transit's Downtown Nanaimo Exchange. The casino is open Sunday to Thursday from 10 AM to 1 AM, and Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 2 AM. These are Pacific time, which British Columbia keeps all year since March 8, 2026. Holiday hours are not published, so check them on casinonanaimo.com.
Since January 16, 2025, the casino has been owned by Snuneymuxw First Nation through Petroglyph Development Group (PDG), the Nation's economic development arm. The Nation is PDG's sole shareholder. Lahal Casino Management LP, PDG's casino management arm, runs the casino.
What is on the floor
The floor has over 400 slot machines. Each takes bets in several sizes, from one cent per pull. Live tables, games run by a dealer at a real table, open Monday to Thursday from 4 PM to 12 AM. On Friday and Saturday they run 11 AM to 2 AM, and on Sunday 11 AM to 12 AM. The live games are Kings Bounty Blackjack, Free Bet Blackjack, RUYI Baccarat and Ultimate Texas Hold'em.
The Action Arena holds electronic table games, played on screens instead of with a dealer. It opens at 12 PM daily with $1 Roulette, $2 Blackjack and $5 Baccarat. The casino does not post a closing time for it. Roulette is on screens only. Craps is on neither the casino's list nor BCLC's.
Is that game on the floor?
Pick a game · see where and when
Slot machines: yes, Casino floor
Over 400 machines, multi-denomination, from one cent per pull. BCLC lists Powerbucks, BC Gold, Race to Win and Dynamic Dollars.
The poker room
The poker room deals $1/$3 No Limit Texas Hold'em. A buy-in is the amount a player brings to the table to start; here it is at least $100 and at most $400. Games run Monday to Thursday 5 PM to 12 AM, and Friday and Saturday 12 PM to 2 AM. On Sunday they run 12 PM to 12 AM. To get a seat, a player goes on the waitlist at Guest Services, where in-person names take priority, or calls 250-753-3033 from inside the casino.
Arriving by ferry
Nanaimo has two BC Ferries terminals. Departure Bay, at 680 Trans Canada Hwy, is a 5 minute drive north of the city centre. Its sailings go to Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, a crossing of 1 h 42 min. The terminal has frequent transit connections to downtown Nanaimo. In a straight line, it is 3.3 km from the casino.
Duke Point sits across the harbour and takes sailings from Tsawwassen, a crossing of 2 h 0 min. It has no public transit, so foot passengers arrange a taxi, a rideshare or a private pickup. The casino is 3.2 km away in a straight line, and the road is longer than that. Schedules and fares change, so they are on bcferries.com rather than here. The tool below lays out each way in.
Plot the way in
From a terminal or a stop to 620 Terminal Ave
- Departure Bay terminal is at 680 Trans Canada Hwy, a 5 minute drive north of the city centre.
- The terminal has frequent transit connections to downtown Nanaimo.
- Downtown, the casino stands next to the Downtown Nanaimo Exchange; Bay D is about 240 m from the door.
- Bring government-issued photo ID: it is scanned at the entrance.
The Island around
Distances from Casino Nanaimo are straight lines between map points. Ladysmith is 21 km away, Parksville 32 km, Duncan 46 km and Port Alberni 64 km. Victoria is 92 km away and Courtenay 96 km. Roads are longer than these lines.
Parking at the casino is free. Bay D of the Downtown Nanaimo Exchange is about 240 m away, and two stops are nearer. Victoria Cres at Albert St is about 150 m away, with routes 1 Nanaimo Rapid Line, 5, 6, 20, 20A, 30 and 72. Front St at Museum Way is about 180 m away. The casino has no hotel and no shuttle.
How far by line
Straight line from a town · route by road and ferry
| Town | Straight line | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Lantzville | 14 km | Google Maps |
| Ladysmith | 21 km | Google Maps |
| Chemainus | 31 km | Google Maps |
| Parksville | 32 km | Google Maps |
| Qualicum Beach | 42 km | Google Maps |
| Duncan | 46 km | Google Maps |
| Vancouver | 61 km | Google Maps |
| Port Alberni | 64 km | Google Maps |
| Comox | 91 km | Google Maps |
| Victoria | 92 km | Google Maps |
| Courtenay | 96 km | Google Maps |
| Campbell River | 134 km | Google Maps |
| Tofino | 143 km | Google Maps |
The Well and The Loft
The Well Public House is the casino's pub, serving pub fare from breakfast to late night. It is open Monday to Thursday 10 AM to 12 AM, Friday and Saturday 10 AM to 2 AM, and Sunday 10 AM to 12 AM. The casino also offers complimentary coffee. The Loft, a private event room of over 1,400 square feet for up to 49 guests, is booked at 1-250-753-3033. Weekly entertainment at The Well is on the casino's events page, and guests must be 19 or older with government-issued photo ID.
Getting in
Guests must be 19 or older, and people under 19 may not enter. Everyone shows government-issued photo ID on the way in. Security scans it and checks it against the list of people restricted from entering, such as those enrolled in Game Break, BCLC's self-exclusion program.
Accepted ID includes a B.C. or North American driver's licence, the BC Services Card or BCID, a passport, or a Canadian citizenship or permanent resident card. A Secure Certificate of Indian Status and First Nations, Metis or Inuit band membership cards also count. Encore Rewards, the casino's players club, is joined at Guest Services.
Online play in BC
PlayNow.com, run by BCLC, is the only legal online gambling site in British Columbia. Since April 13, 2026, the Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO) has regulated gambling in BC. Casino Nanaimo says it has no online gaming app and has warned about fake app ads using its name.
The links marked Ad on this guide's home page lead to a private online casino partner, not to PlayNow.com. On August 28, 2026, the IGCO said that online gambling sites other than PlayNow.com accepting BC players operate illegally in the province. A BC resident on such a site has none of the provincial protections. Game Break and PlayNow limits do not apply, and complaints cannot go to the IGCO. The partner pays the guide a commission.
Where to find help
- Gambling Support BC answers at 1-888-795-6111, 24/7 and at no cost, for any BC resident, including people affected by a loved one's gambling.
- Game Break is BCLC's voluntary self-exclusion program, with terms of 6 months, 1 year, 2 years or 3 years that cannot be changed once chosen.
- Casino Nanaimo has a GameSense Info Centre on site, and a GameSense Advisor is available in every casino in BC.
Questions from the dock
How late is Casino Nanaimo open on Saturday?
On Friday and Saturday the casino is open from 10 AM to 2 AM, Pacific time. Holiday hours are not published, so check them on casinonanaimo.com.
When do the live tables open on Monday?
From Monday to Thursday, live tables run from 4 PM to 12 AM. On Friday and Saturday they open at 11 AM. The Action Arena, with electronic tables, opens at 12 PM daily.
How far is Departure Bay from the casino?
Departure Bay terminal is 3.3 km from Casino Nanaimo in a straight line. The road is longer than that line. The terminal is a 5 minute drive north of the city centre.
Is parking free at the casino?
Yes, parking at Casino Nanaimo is free. The casino does not say whether it is a lot or a garage. Height limits, EV charging and RV parking are not published either.
How old must guests be?
Guests must be 19 or older, the minimum age for gambling in British Columbia. Everyone entering shows government-issued photo ID, which security scans at the door.