Eagle River Casino Alberta Reviewed for 2024

During my travels I’ve come across almost every type of casino imaginable and I think it’s so important that the gambling scene remains diverse.

With this in mind, the Eagle River Casino & Travel Plaza is certainly something a bit different given the fact it’s quite literally nestled in the trees in the middle of nowhere and caters more towards truckers than tourists. 

However, it’s for this exact reason that I couldn’t wait to check it out. After all, variety is the spice of life, right?

Having said that, Whitecourt isn’t exactly a hub for gambling activity. In fact, the River Eagle Casino is the only casino within 150 kilometres. 

So, I went along to see what a day out at the Eagle River Casino looks like in July 2024.

The Eagle River Casino opened its doors back in 2008 and is just a stones throw from the Husky Travel Plaza – a truck stop and RV haven rolled into one which offers amenities like shower blocks and a shop for guests to use to freshen up while they’re on their travels.

With the resort currently undergoing a $17.5 million refurbishment, which includes the addition of a hotel, things are set to change here in the coming months and I’m glad that I’ve been able to witness it before any changes are made as I’d love to come back once all the work is complete.

But for now, let’s jump straight into my experience at the Eagle River Casino and see exactly what’s on offer here.

Location

Eagle River Casino is located on the corner of highway 43 & 32 North in Whitecourt, Alberta.

As you may already have come to expect considering this place is situated in a truck stop, it’s not the easiest place to get to and it will require arriving by car (or truck, obviously). 

The nearest significant city is Edmonton, but this is still a two-hour driver away so it’s safe to say this is somewhere for those just ‘passing through’. 

A part of me thinks this is a shame as it’s unlikely the casino will get the numbers it deserves. Having said that, the whole pit stop thing is a part of its identity and I have no doubt it would lose a lot of its charm if that were taken away.

Plus, the installation of the hotel will make it much easier for guests to warrant a trip here, so I’m glad that this is going ahead.

The Eagle River Casino is located in a 39,000 square foot facility, sharing the space with a restaurant, lounge and conference space.

I was made aware that the project to construct the Eagle River Hotel extended to revamping the casino too. How far these renovations will go, I’m not sure. However, in all honesty, it’s not exactly like the casino is in dire need for it.

All of the tables and machines were in great condition and I had no issues with cleanliness. However, perhaps a subtle freshen up wouldn’t go amiss, but that just comes down to general wear and tear really.

While it’s not the biggest casino floor in the world, it felt spacious and provided enough games to keep you busy for a good few hours.

Table Games

One thing I was pretty impressed with was the range of table games on offer. There are more games on offer here than at casinos I’ve visited that are twice the size, so that’s a big plus.

All of the table games are available from 4pm – 12am Sunday to Thursday and from 4pm – 2am on Friday and Saturday and players can choose from Roulette, Blackjack, Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and Spanish 21.

I can’t remember the last time I saw Spanish 21 being offered at a casino, so I jumped at the opportunity to have a game despite my complete ignorance on any of the rules.

Luckily, after asking one of the casino floor staff to help me figure it out, I was all set. As someone who frequents casinos regularly, it’s not often that I get the chance to ask for help and put the staff’s knowledge to the test. 

In this case, I was really impressed with the help I received. The staff member was super knowledgeable and friendly and explained things clearly, so this was a really big positive.

This casino also offers private, reserved poker tables for groups, all you need to do is ring up and put in the request.

Perhaps my only gripe with the casino is that it definitely caters more towards casual gamblers instead of high rollers as the average bet was around $5. While this didn’t really matter to me, the high rollers amongst us may wish to look elsewhere if they’re looking for a more intense session.

Slots

There are 250 slots to choose from at this casino, with a mix of classic and modern machines, and the hours of operation of all of the machines are 12pm – 12am Sunday to Thursday and 12pm – 12am on Friday and Saturday.

I chanced my luck on a couple of the classic machines, Pompeii and Sphynx 3D, but they, unfortunately, were not playing ball.

There are a handful of progressive slots to choose from too, though my luck never seems to hold on these so I’ve gave them a miss.

Note that all of the slot machines at this venue are ticket-in, ticket-out, making it easy to move our credits from one machine to another.

Off-Track betting

Interestingly, this place is big on horse racing and fans of the ‘Sport of Kings’ are supposedly said to receive the royal treatment at the Eagle River Casino.

All of the racing action across Canada and the U.S. is shown on the TVs dotted around the casino.

As somebody who dabbles in horse racing from time to time, I did decide to have a flutter on a couple of the races that were being shown during my visit. After all, I wanted to get the full experience. Sadly, it wasn't my day. 

Currently, there is no on-site accommodation at the Eagle River Casino. Well, not for people wanting to stay in a hotel anyway.

However, as I’ve already briefly mentioned, the installation of the Eagle River Hotel is well underway.

The $17.5 million project will see a new four storey hotel with 48 units built next to the casino, as well as renovations to the casino itself.

Exactly when this project will be finished is unclear – not even the staff that I asked could tell me. 

However, if you head south towards Whitecourt, there is an abundance of hotels to choose from.

Some options located within a 15-minute drive of the casino include the Quality Inn and & Suites, Ramada by Wyndham Whitecourt, and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Whitecourt Southeast. 

Truck Stop

On the flip side, this place could be seen as a bit of a trucker’s paradise. 

As the self-proclaimed ‘premier truck stop in Alberta’, the Husky Travel Plaza is located within close proximity to the Eagle River Casino and provides parking for up to 50 semi-trucks.

After being on the road, refreshments are a must and the on-site shop offers up things like sandwiches, pastries, subs, beef jerky and freshly brewed coffee.

Plus, truck-drivers who fill up at the diesel cardlock have access to the on-site shower block too, free of charge. 

And in the morning, truckers can claim a complimentary cup of coffee before going on their way.

RV Park

The Eagle River Tourism RV Park is open 365 days a year and provides everything you need for a rest from the road.

You can choose from 30AMP or 50AMP power hook ups depending on the size of your vehicle and you also have access to water and sanitation hook ups. 

On top of this, there’s free Wi-Fi available and access to a shower block, toilets, coin laundry, and even a playground.

Food and Drink

The place to go here is Timber’s Bar and Grill. Quite literally as it’s the only eatery on-site. 

Whether another restaurant will be added into the new hotel remains to be seen but if it’s not, it doesn’t really matter as this place is great.

Timber’s Bar and Grill is open daily from 12pm – 11pm and serves a host of classic dishes like burgers, steaks, pasta and ribs, to name a few.

After hearing that this place claims to offer the best prime rib ever, there was no way that I wasn’t ordering this and let me tell you – I’m glad I did! I’m not entirely sure I can say it’s the best prime rib in the entire world, but it’s certainly up there and I’d absolutely recommend trying it should you find yourself at Eagle River’s Timber’s Bar and Grill.

To wash it down, the bar has a drinks menu which offers pretty much everything you’d expect to see, including cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits.

Buffet wise, the casino does provide one from time to time. For instance, just last month there was an all-you-can-eat crab buffet, offered at $39.95 per person.

Entertainment

The Timber’s Bar and Grill does occasionally host events, ranging from live music to sporting events and to parties.

This month, for instance, has seen two live performances from The B34st, a rock and roll band from Puerto Vallarta, and a Player’s Club birthday party – a party for all members’ who have a July birthday, which includes dinner, games and prizes.

Live music offerings are usually limited to the rock and roll and county genres, but this suits the place just fine.

Reservations for events are not usually required which is great for those who decide to drop in spontaneously.

Smoking

Because the grounds are owned by Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, smoking is permitted inside the casino, but only within the designated smoking area marked on the casino floor.

It’s unusual these days to see a venue that permits smoking inside and I have no doubt that this a favoured novelty for those who do smoke.

Unfortunately for those who are not partial to a smoke, the smell is detectable throughout the building, so that’s something to be aware of.

Eagle River Casino is fully wheelchair accessible and there was plenty of space to move around between slots and tables. 

Now, if there’s one thing that Eagle River does well, it’s bonuses and promotions.

Firstly, let’s start off with the rewards programme. Or, in fact, the two rewards programmes that are on offer here: Winner’s Edge and the Talon Player’s Card.

Winner’s Edge

Winner’s Edge is Alberta’s casinos reward programme. It’s completely free to join and aims to add depth to gambling in Alberta’s casinos. 

Joining the programme is simple and can be done online. Once registered, you’ll receive a card which can then be inserted into a slot machine or electronic terminal to accumulate points for every dollar wagered.

Points can then be exchanged for free play on all slot machines and electronic table games.

The thing I like most about this is that it can be used in any of Alberta’s land-based casinos. Heavy on the ‘land-based’ there. There simply aren’t enough sole land-based promotions out there anymore so this gets a huge thumbs up from me. 

Talon Player’s Card

The Talon Player’s Card is exclusive to the River Eagle Casino and you can join any time by visiting the Guest Services section of the casino.

Once registered, the perks include a $20 birthday coupon, ‘Eagle Bucks’ to put towards meals at Timber’s Bar or to redeem for slot play, cheaper gas, and entry into exclusive contests and draws.

You can earn points a bunch of different ways, including:

• 10 points for every dollar won on a hand-paid jackpot
• 10 points for every dollar spent at Timber’s Bar & Grill
• 100 points for Daily Admission Swipe
• 5,000 points for 3 of a Kind, a Straight, or a Straight Flush on 3 Card Poker
• 1,000 points for a Suited Blackjack on Blackjack and Spanish 21
• 5,000 points for a Royal Flush on Poker
• 5,000 points for 3 consecutive hits on Roulette
• 500 points for table game attendance

Moving on to some of the other general promotions available at Eagle River, which include: 

• Cruiser’s Party – If you’re 55 or over you can enjoy free soup and a sandwich as well as a $5 free slot play token on the first Monday of every month.
• Discounted Gas – Redeem 200 Talon Points to receive 7¢ off posted price gas per litre.
• Birthday Coupon – Receive a $20 coupon on your birthday to spend at the Timber’s Bar and Grill.

The promotions are constantly changing at Eagle River Casino and there are regular giveaways too. In recent times, the casino has given away everything from motorcycles to sports cars to cash. 

The best way of keeping up to date with present promotions is on the official Eagle River website under the promotions tab, or through their Facebook page.

I had a fantastic time at the Eagle River Casino. I really enjoy trying out new and different things and after learning that this place is hidden amongst the trees on the highway, well this was enough to pique my interest. 

It would have been nice to have been able to stay on-site after a night on the tables but the fact the nearest hotel is just a few minutes’ drive away countered this. Plus, let’s not forget that the Eagle River Hotel is currently underway which will add another dimension to this place entirely.

I was really impressed with the range of games on offer inside the casino and I thoroughly enjoyed my first taste of Spanish 21 – with the help of a lovely member of staff who talked me through the rules, of course.

I felt really relaxed and welcome throughout my stay, from inside the casino to the Timber’s Bar and Grill, which, by the way, definitely does have a claim to the ‘best prime rib’ crown.

All in all, I think this place is best described as a hidden gem and I absolutely would return in the future, though I think I’ll postpone my trip until I can book into the brand-new on-site hotel.

Ultimately, the Eagle Casino & Travel Plaza offers something different and provides an alternate to a city centre casino experience.

It may not be everyone’s cup of tea and that’s completely understandable as it is undeniably out of the way of things.

However, should you find yourself in this neck of the woods I can’t recommend a visit here enough.