First Nations to buy two Metro Vancouver casinos, including River Rock | Daily Hive

First Nations reach agreement to buy two Metro Vancouver casinos, including River Rock Casino Resort

The marina at River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond. (Rigucci/Shutterstock)

Two casino properties in British Columbia will be owned by local First Nations.

The Musqueam Indian Band and the Snuneymuxw First Nation announced today that they have reached an agreement in principle to partner on the acquisition of the River Rock Casino Resort, the largest casino in B.C.

Currently, the casino and hotel resort in northern Richmond is owned and operated by Great Canadian Entertainment, which recently began accepting bids to acquire the property’s business and gaming licence.

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In 2008, as a measure of reconciliation, the B.C. government reached an agreement with the Musqueam Indian Band that hands over the lands occupied by the University Golf Course at the University of British Columbia and River Rock Casino Resort, with the provincial government providing $70 million to the First Nation in settlement cash and towards buying both properties from the owners at the time. The First Nation must continue to use the golf course for golf course operations until at least 2083, restricting the site’s development potential until then.

Great Canadian’s lease for River Rock Casino Resort expires in December 2041.

River Rock Casino Resort marked its 20th anniversary last year. It has a 70,000 sq. ft. gaming floor area with 1,100 slot machines and 75 table games, nearly 400 hotel guets rooms, a 1,000-seat show theatre, and various restaurants, including the recent opening of Gordon Ramsay Steak.

Gordon Ramsay Steak at River Rock Casino Resort. (Shawn Talbo)

The Musqueam Indian Band states that for much of the past year, it explored different options to acquire the River Rock Casino Resort business as part of its development and investment strategy.

In September 2025, the Snuneymuxw First Nation approached the Musqueam Indian Band about their intention to acquire the Richmond casino and hotel business, with the Musqueam band’s council this morning passing a motion to support the agreement in principle to partner with the Snuneymuxw on the acquisition.

“We thank Snuneymuxw First Nation for respecting our traditional territories and following our shared cultural protocols by approaching us about a partnership to acquire River Rock,” said Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow in a statement today.

“This is an example of Nations working together, not against each other, building economic prosperity for both our communities that will support more jobs and opportunities for our band members,” continued Sparrow.

Snuneymuxw First Nation Chief Michael Wyse added, “In the spirit of partnership and respect, we seek to move forward with our Musqueam relatives with one heart, and one mind. Together, we can advance a shared vision of economic strength and self-determination for both our Nations.”

River Rock Casino Resort. (Great Canadian Entertainment)

Circa late 2000s: River Rock Casino Resort Hotel and the marina (foreground), with SkyTrain Canada Line construction and the previous aggregate (concrete materials) plant at the current site of the Richmond Night Market at Duck Island (background). (Marinas)

Separately, the Vancouver Island-based Snuneymuxw First Nation also announced today they have reached an agreement with Great Canadian to buy Chances Maple Ridge casino. This acquisition is being led by the First Nation-owned firm of Petroglyph Development Group (PDG). The deal is still subject to closing and regulatory approvals. The Musqueam Indian Band is not involved in this second deal.

In January 2025, PDG also acquired Casino Nanaimo and Elements Casino Victoria from Great Canadian. Combined with its future stake in River Rock Casino Resort, it will become B.C.’s largest Indigenous-led casino operator.

According to provincial Crown entity B.C. Lottery Corporation, for the 2024/2025 fiscal year, River Rock Casino Resort continues to be the top-performing casino in the province, with total gambling revenue totalling $252 million, including $162 million from slots and $90 million from tables.

Chances Maple Ridge recorded about $30 million, including $29.4 million from slots and about $0.5 million from tables. Casino Nanaimo saw nearly $44 million, including $41 million from slots and over $2.6 million from tables, while Elements Casino Victoria saw about $90 million, including $73 million from slots and more than $7 million from tables.

This past spring, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation announced its intention to buy the Hastings Racecourse & Casino business from Great Canadian. The casino company’s current operating agreement with the City of Vancouver for the property expires in May 2026.

Some of Great Canadian’s gambling options in Surrey suddenly wound down this past summer, when the City of Surrey decided not to renew the lease for Fraser Downs horse racecourse at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds to enable a future mixed-use redevelopment on the site. The fairgrounds’ Elements Casino Surrey and its BC Racebook operations are unaffected by the lease termination.

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