PEI’s Casinos Are Where Fine Dining and Luck Collide

Visitors to Prince Edward Island (PEI) have plenty of ways to spend their time, from reducing handicaps on the province's golf courses to relaxing on the various beaches or even indulging in eco-tourism adventures. Improvements to online infrastructure over time have also made entertainment via the internet more accessible, and online casino players may enjoy visiting PEI's brick-and-mortar casinos for a real-world atmosphere when placing bets. One of the big perks of playing in person is that delicious food is readily available and close at hand, adding an extra dimension to slots and table games.

PEI’s Casino Scene – A Blend of Land-Based Charm and Online Opportunities

PEI is close to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and has the smallest population and land area of any Canadian province. Its main industries are tourism and agriculture, which make it a picturesque place to visit. While the land-based casino options are fewer than in many more populous provinces, there are a few places to play (in addition to some bingo halls). Many visitors and residents of PEI, therefore, opt to play online at international casinos, as the current status of online casinos in PEI on a domestic basis is limited. Because of this, many of the top PEI casino brands are offshore sites that welcome Canadian players with generous bonuses, extensive slots, table gaming options, and support Canadian-friendly banking methods.

Online versus Real World Casinos

Just as with shopping and certain other activities, there's a choice to be made between taking things online or handling them in the real world. It's undeniable that online gaming is more convenient for the player, as it can happen at any time of the day or night, and sessions can be a few minutes to hours on end. Great online bonuses are also available for newcomers and recurring promos for existing players. However, real-world casinos have a unique atmosphere, and part of this is the great food that makes winning all the sweeter and consoles those whom the gaming gods have snubbed.

Red Shores Summerside (Summerside)

The smaller of the two land-based casinos available in the province is Red Shores Summerside. Table gaming is not accessible here, but slots can be played from 11am to 1am on Friday and Saturday and 11am to 11pm on other days. Horse racing is also available, with slightly fewer races than the bigger Red Shores site in PEI (see below for details).

The excitement of racing and casino wagers comes from the uncertainty of the outcome and the thrill of success. Whether celebrating a win or cheering oneself up after things went awry, Red Shores Summerside has on-site dining at the West End Bar and Grill, open every day from 11.30am to 7.30pm. In addition to daily specials, the restaurant serves burgers, platters, sandwiches, and more. Whether the gambling goes well or poorly, culinary delights are always welcome.

Red Shores Racetrack and Casino (Charlottetown)

One of the main alternatives to playing at the best PEI online casino sites is Red Shores Racetrack and Casino, a great establishment for those who like to mingle casino gaming with betting on nags. The race calendar (and betting opportunities on horses) are available online, with handy color-coding denoting post-times and double-headers.

The casino provides slots every day of the week, from 11am to 1am (extended to 2am from Thursday to Saturday). There are hundreds of slots to play, including new video slots and old-school reels, and these make up the majority of the casino gaming available at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino. Table games are also accessible and come in the form of blackjack, baccarat, and UTH (Ultimate Texas Hold'Em). One of the stand-out winners at the casino was Don Englert, who won over $84,000 on the $1 game Triple Hot Ice.

Delicious dining is also available at this venue, and fans of Canadian cuisine can sink their teeth into fresh fare from the local area at Top of the Park (reservation required). Lunch and dinner can also be enjoyed at Turfs Bar and Grill (closed Sunday, limited opening Monday to Wednesday, reservations required on race days), with plenty of burgers and fish among the menu options. Within the casino gaming floor is Red's Gold Cup Lounge, which serves food until the late evening (8pm Sunday-Monday, 9pm Tuesday-Wednesday, 10pm Thursday-Saturday). Closing time for the lounge is 12am every day of the week. While Lady Luck may or may not smile at players in the casino, there's a guarantee of great food at this venue.

Bingo Halls

PEI is a pretty place, but the low population density limits gaming options. However, there are alternatives beyond the two casinos mentioned above in the form of bingo halls. There are three halls in the province operated by BingoWorld. One of these is in Charlottetown, which has three other bingo halls, with the other two BingoWorld halls in Summerside and Alberton. The Charlottetown and Summerside locations are particularly convenient for racing/casino bettors who fancy a little something different.

Great food and excellent gaming opportunities are available in the small but perfectly formed province of PEI.