The land
The resort on Rama First Nation land
Casino Rama Resort stands on Chippewas of Rama First Nation lands, and has done so since it opened in 1996. The dates below follow it from that opening to its 30th year.
Written by Road NotesChecked October 13, 2026
The land
The land and the partners
Casino Rama Resort sits on Chippewas of Rama First Nation lands, which Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited leases. The company runs the resort day to day. Those leases are part of the arrangement under which Gateway took over operations in 2018. Gateway names two partners in the resort: OLG and Rama First Nation.
The resort's hotel page describes the property as located on Rama First Nation. In the same words, it was built and designed to pay homage to the culture and heritage of Rama First Nation. Gateway, for its part, describes the resort as Ontario's only First Nation resort casino.
Thirty years
Thirty years on Rama Rd
- July 31, 1996The resort opens on Chippewas of Rama First Nation lands
- July 18, 2018Gateway takes over day-to-day operations
- January 2026Shows in the Entertainment Centre become 19+ unless marked
- July 2026Thirty years, after the refresh
Casino Rama Resort opened on July 31, 1996. On July 18, 2018, Gateway took over day-to-day operations under a 23-year Casino Operating and Services Agreement with OLG. Leases for the resort on Chippewas of Rama First Nation lands were part of the same arrangement.
A large refresh came first, carried out with OLG and Rama First Nation. It brought renovated hotel rooms, an expanded spa and fitness centre, and new restaurants. The resort reached its 30th anniversary in July 2026, with that work behind it.
The Entertainment Centre is a 5,000-seat theatre with retractable seating. Since January 2026, its shows have been 19+ unless marked otherwise. Current listings are on casinorama.com, not in this guide.
Road notes
- The dates on this page are those published by the operator and in news reports.
- Show listings live on casinorama.com, the resort's own site, and not in Road Notes.
Asked on the way
Short answers
- When did Casino Rama Resort open?
- It opened on July 31, 1996, and marked its 30th anniversary in July 2026.
- Who runs the resort?
- Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited has run it day to day since July 18, 2018. It does so under a 23-year Casino Operating and Services Agreement with OLG. Gateway names OLG and Rama First Nation as the resort's partners.
- Whose land is the resort on?
- It sits on Chippewas of Rama First Nation lands, which Gateway leases. The resort's hotel page says the property was built and designed to pay homage to the culture and heritage of Rama First Nation.
- How big is the Entertainment Centre?
- It is a 5,000-seat theatre with retractable seating. Since January 2026, shows there are 19+ unless marked otherwise, and listings are on casinorama.com.
Next stops