Cowboys Casino Calgary Review for May 2024

Mosey on down to Cowboys Casino Calgary for a unique land-based gambling experience. 

Nestled within Calgary’s bustling entertainment district, Cowboys is a modern homage to the city’s Western heritage and promises to be “the most fun you can have with your boots on”.

Considering a gambling field trip to the culture capital of Cow-Town? Check out my in-depth Cowboys Casino review and learn everything you need to know before you go, including the location, facilities, games, promotions, security, and general atmosphere of this cowboy casino. 

From the security staff in ten-gallon hats to the bull-riding cowboy sculpture that greets you at the North entrance, Cowboys Casino really plays on the city’s Western reputation. 

It’s located in Victoria Park, the epicentre of downtown Calgary’s entertainment and culture district, so it’s easy to reach. Just take the C Train to the Centre Street Station, then it’s a short walk along the BMO Centre to Cowboys Casino. 

At 96,000 square feet, Cowboys is a pretty small venue that doesn’t have the space for a hotel. However, there are plenty of hotels within a mile radius. Budget-friendly options include Ramada Plaza, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and HI Calgary. 

If you’ve got cash to splash, check out the nearby Hotel Arts. Located just three streets away from Cowboys, the boutique hotel has a pool area to relax in before a trip to the casino. You can even explore downtown using the hotel’s free commuter bikes.

Cowboys Casino is conveniently situated less than a five-minute walk (or, depending on the number of drinks you’ve had, a ten-minute stumble) from Calgary Stampede, making it a post-rodeo hotspot. 

Similarly, walking to Cowboys from the Scotiabank Saddledome takes less than ten minutes, positioning the casino as the perfect place to celebrate (or commiserate) after a Flames game.

The dealers at Cowboys are experts at their craft. They need to be since one of the casino’s biggest selling points is its “Learn to Play” packages. Crafted around one 90-minute, two 45-minute or three 30-minute lessons, you can learn to play roulette, craps, blackjack, or poker with one of the casino’s knowledgeable dealers.

It’s not just for beginners, either. I’ve been playing poker for years now, but I booked a poker package to build on my skills (and improve my awful poker face). It was awesome.

Cowboys is a no-smoking casino, including e-cigarettes. I saw a young bettor sneak a hit of what smelt like a blueberry vape while playing on the slots, but security was on them like a hawk. 

To save yourself a telling-off, you can head outside to one of the nearby outdoor smoking areas. Re-entry is not a problem, and cigarettes are available to buy from Guest Services at the main entrance. 

Not everyone at Cowboys comes to gamble. The casino has four other venues: the Centre Bar & Eatery, Melrose Food & Drink, Hitman’s Bar and Cowboys Dancehall. 

The Centre is an open-concept bar connecting to the casino, letting you soak up the atmosphere while chowing down on some great food. 

Though it’s in the centre of downtown Calgary – where dining is expensive – Cowboys offers plenty of Happy Hour specials. Meanwhile, the Dancehall is one of downtown Calgary’s busiest nightclubs. 

Speaking of drinks, you can enjoy complimentary soda and coffee while you gamble. The Centre bar does give out free alcoholic drinks now and then, though it’s mostly to people having “Learn to Play” lessons. 

The casino is spread over just one floor and is fully wheelchair-accessible. Cowboys allows carers to enter free of charge and permits service animals inside. 

However, be warned that security rarely interferes when tipsy young twenty-somethings try to stroke your service dog. The security guards, in general, aren’t the friendliest, but they do a good job of controlling the weekend crowds. 

They are stationed at every entrance and oversee each section of the casino floor. While sometimes it seems they’re there for their own enjoyment (some look a little too pleased to be kicking out a drunken Flames fan), they are there to keep you safe and maintain order. Though surly and serious, you’ll be glad to see them when the weekend rolls around and the Dancehall fills up.

Whether you’re visiting for a gambling session, a bite to eat, or a two-step in the Dancehall, you can take advantage of the complimentary heated underground car park. Just be aware that it has limited space, so you might want to get there early if you’re visiting on the weekend.

Though not as large as some of its Calgary competitors, Cowboys’ casino floor covers all bases and offers an all-around gambling package. 

More than 350 slots line its casino floor, with bets starting from a penny up to $5. There are plenty of jackpot slots, both fixed and progressive, and attendants come around regularly to clean the machines, tables and casino floor.  If you’re a non-Canadian visitor, be aware that the machines only take Canadian Dollars. 

There are around 30 roulette, blackjack, craps, poker, and baccarat tables, alongside a dedicated poker room. Spacious and modern, I found these tables highly sociable and spent several happy hours chatting and drinking with my neighbour at the roulette table. 

Despite being a Vancouver Canucks fan, we had a great time playing. Plus, the dealers were super friendly. Cowboys offers wide betting limits, with roulette games starting at 50 cents a go. 

Tables and slots at Cowboys are semi-cashless, meaning you can slide in a note, but your change and any winnings will be returned digitally. However, land based casinos are fast payout casinos, so that's a positive. There are a few redemption kiosks on the casino floor, though I’d have liked to see a couple more. 

As far as poker rooms go, Cowboys boasts one of the biggest and most impressive in all of Alberta. Open 24/7, there are a dozen tables offering a decent range of poker games, including Texas Hold’em (Limit/No-Limit) and Pot-Limit Omaha. 

You get unlimited coffee and soda, and there’s a bathroom right outside for those who go overboard on Sprite. When I was there, the Ultimate Texas Hold’em game had a progressive jackpot of over $130,000. And before you ask – no, I did not win it. 

Though poker is available 24/7, the casino itself has set opening hours. The slots floor is open daily from 10am to 5am, while the table games are open from 12pm to 3am. 

Disappointingly, the craps tables are only open from Wednesday through Saturday, 7pm till 3am. From these hours of operation, I’m guessing they get the most craps traffic from tipsy club-goers. However, it’s still frustrating for players who like to roll the dice on a regular basis. 

For a more private gambling experience, you can head to the digital gaming pit. This section of the casino is much quieter, with all games unfolding on individual betting terminals. 

One of the reasons I love land-based casinos is for the interactions you have with others, so I’m not a huge fan of how anti-social the digital gaming pit is. However, it’s the perfect escape for seasoned bettors who want to avoid the party crowd and offers craps when the tables are closed mid-week. 

High rollers can check out the High Limit room, offering wider limit blackjack and baccarat tables. There’s also a high-limit slot room just around the corner from the main casino floor, though the name is slightly misleading when $5 is the biggest bet. 

Nonetheless, these exclusive rooms offer a more ‘mature’ place to gamble that’s hidden away from the rowdy crowds and bustling tables. 

The “Elite 55 Club” is a program exclusively for senior citizens that organizes luncheons, tournaments, prize giveaways and holiday events. You also get 10% off at The Centre and a free buffet lunch on your birthday. 

The poker room is undoubtedly the best place in the casino to claim bonuses and promotions. It runs an exclusive Round-Up Rewards program called “Poker Atlas”, where you can earn 100 points per hour playing on any poker table. 

These rewards can be redeemed on food at The Centre Eatery, where poker players already get a whopping 40% off. There’s also a “Bad Beat Jackpot”, where players who qualify on No-Limit Hold’em or Pot-Limit Omaha can win a share of up to $100,000.

Besides the poker room and 55 Club, there are very few promotions on offer at Cowboys Casino. There’s no loyalty program for people under 55, and I didn’t see any weekly or even monthly promotions or giveaways detailed around the casino. When it comes to bonuses, Cowboys isn’t the best. 

Unlike some of Alberta’s casinos, Cowboys isn’t a total pensioners paradise. Due to its location in trendy Victoria Park and its cohabitation with the Cowboys Dancehall, the casino attracts a younger crowd. Instead of grey-haired gamblers lining up the slots, you’ll find a wide range of ages from 21 and up. 

If you thrive off a lively casino atmosphere, I highly recommend visiting Cowboys during Stampede in July. If you prefer a more intimate gambling experience, I suggest you grab your passport and hide out in Montana until the Stampede festivities are over. 

Jokes aside, Cowboys has a pretty quiet atmosphere at the start of the week, but its unique layout as a casino/nightclub hybrid makes it a popular weekend hangout. 

I visited on a Thursday, and the venue was buzzing with a blend of casino players, pre-gamers and hockey fans. Not only was the betting floor busy, but by the time midnight rolled around, people were packed into the Cowboys Dancehall like sardines. 

It was refreshing to see such a mix of ages around the casino, though I think the 75-cent draft beers – available in the Dancehall every Thursday night – were largely responsible for drawing in the younger crowd.

I’d read some negative reviews online about the cleanliness of the casino and its games. Before I even had a chance to sit down at a slot machine, an attendant came and sanitized it for me. 

The bathrooms all started off in good condition, though by the end of the night, they were in something of a sorry state. I blame the $6 Casamigos – you can’t sell tequila that cheap without repercussions. 

Wrestlemania fans may already be aware that pro wrestler Bret “Hitman” Hart is a Calgary native. But did you know that Cowboys Casino is the home of his famous Hitman Bar? 

Decked out in Hart’s wrestling memorabilia (including his 1992 heavyweight championship belt), it’s the perfect place to pregame for a concert at the Saddledome or watch the big game. 

The “Hitman” often visits the bar to greet fans and grab a beer, but this didn’t happen during my trip despite my hopes and prayers.

Ultimately, Cowboys is a characterful casino that fulfils its promise of a good time. 

Positioned at the centre of Calgary’s entertainment district and with a popular nightclub attached to its hip, Cowboys is the perfect place for a pre or post-night out casino session. 

Housing under 400 slots, a number significantly less than the best online casinos, and less than 40 table games, Cowboys isn’t trying to be a Vegas-standard casino, or even one . But if you’re looking for a lively Calgary hangout that offers good food, good vibes, and a good variety of games, Cowboys Casino could be the place for you.