Notebook kept and checked by Sloane CarrickChecked October 7, 2026
Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay: 1 h 42 min
Six venues stand on Vancouver Island, from Elements Casino Victoria in View Royal in the south to Chances Campbell River in the north. By car from the mainland, a trip starts with a sailing; the crossing picker below shows which terminal lands nearest each venue.
Pick a crossing
Tsawwassen → Swartz Bay
1 h 35 minSailing time, BC Ferries
TsawwassenIn Delta; a 36 km drive from downtown Vancouver.
Swartz BayAt the end of Highway 17, north of Victoria.
The Tsawwassen terminal, in Delta, is a 36 km drive from downtown Vancouver. Sailings reach Swartz Bay, north of Victoria, in 1 h 35 min and Duke Point in 2 h 0 min. On select dates a one-way direct sailing goes to Departure Bay, with no return.
Horseshoe Bay is a 25-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. Sailings from Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay take 1 h 42 min. Travellers with a vehicle sailing from Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay must book and pay in advance. Departure Bay is a 5-minute drive north of Nanaimo city centre, with frequent transit into town. Duke Point has no public transit, so foot passengers need a taxi, rideshare, private pickup or parking.
Elements Casino Victoria is at 1708 Island Hwy, in the Town of View Royal. Doors open at 9 AM and close at 2 AM, or 4 AM on Friday and Saturday, the latest hours on the island. From Sunday through Thursday, dealers work the live tables between 12 PM and 2 AM; Friday and Saturday push the close back to 4 AM.
The floor holds 770 slots, 14 live tables and 15 electronic tables. The poker room deals No Limit Texas Hold'em at $1/$3 and $2/$5; its poker page gives two sets of hours. The Platinum Room, 3,995 sq ft with a stage, holds up to 500 guests. Parking is free, in a parkade and an outdoor lot.
Guests aged 19 to 25 show a second piece of valid ID along with government-issued photo ID. The Island Hwy at Wilfert Rd stop, about 75 m away, takes routes 38, 46, 48, 51X, 61 and 95 Blink.
Chances Cowichan, a community gaming centre, is at 436 Cowichan Way, Duncan. It runs 10 AM to 12 AM Sunday to Thursday, and 10 AM to 1 AM on Friday and Saturday. Inside are 165 slot games, from 1 cent to 1 dollar, and a bingo hall whose seat count differs between its pages. Its lot holds nearly 200 cars, tour buses and large motor homes included.
Mid-Island: Nanaimo and Port Alberni
Casino Nanaimo is at 620 Terminal Ave in downtown Nanaimo, 3.3 km in a straight line from Departure Bay. Opening time is 10 AM. Closing is 1 AM, pushed back to 2 AM each Friday and Saturday. Over 400 slots start at one cent per pull. Live tables open at 4 PM Monday to Thursday and at 11 AM Friday to Sunday. Games include Kings Bounty Blackjack, Free Bet Blackjack and RUYI Baccarat; table counts differ between its pages.
Poker is No Limit Texas Hold'em at $1/$3, buy-in $100 to $400, from 5 PM Monday to Thursday and 12 PM Friday to Sunday. The Well Public House hosts music trivia Thursdays and music bingo Fridays at 7 PM, and karaoke Saturdays at 8 PM. Next door is BC Transit's Downtown Nanaimo Exchange.
RimRock Casino, 4890 Cherry Creek Rd, Port Alberni, appears on the Province's list of casinos. Opening is at 11 AM and closing at 11 PM, though Friday and Saturday carry on until midnight. Inside, the 28,000 sq ft building takes on a west coast rainforest look, finished in cedar and Douglas fir. It holds 105 slots, a Full Swing multi-sport simulator and the Cypress Restaurant & Lounge, closed on Mondays.
North Island: Courtenay and Campbell River
Two community gaming centres run by Gateway Casinos & Entertainment serve the North Island, each with a MATCH Eatery & Public House. Chances Courtenay, at 361 Hunt Road, has 200 slots and electronic blackjack, roulette and baccarat. Chances Campbell River, at 111 St. Ann's Road, has 150 slots and electronic blackjack. The two are 40.6 km apart in a straight line.
Both keep the same hours: 10 AM to midnight Sunday to Thursday, and 10 AM to 1 AM on Friday and Saturday. In Campbell River, bingo is added on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, starting at 6:30 PM. For holiday hours, consult each venue's own site.
Who owns the island floors
On January 16, 2025, Petroglyph Development Group closed its purchase of Casino Nanaimo and Elements Casino Victoria from Great Canadian. Snuneymuxw First Nation uses the company as its arm for economic development. The Nation is its sole shareholder, and all profits go back to the Nation. Great Canadian had operated Casino Nanaimo from its opening in 1986. Elements opened in 2001 as View Royal Casino and was expanded and renamed in 2018.
Chances Cowichan held its grand opening on March 3, 2007. On April 1, 2026, Khowutzun Gaming Corporation, a business wholly owned by Cowichan Tribes, took full ownership and operation of the centre.
Questions
Which ferry terminal is nearest to Casino Nanaimo?
In a straight line, Duke Point is 3.2 km from Casino Nanaimo and Departure Bay is 3.3 km. Departure Bay has frequent transit connections to downtown Nanaimo. Duke Point has no public transit, so foot passengers need a taxi, a rideshare, a private pickup or parking.
Which Vancouver Island venue stays open latest?
Elements Casino Victoria in View Royal is open to 4 AM on Friday and Saturday, and to 2 AM from Sunday to Thursday. Holiday schedules should be confirmed on the venue's own website.
Can the direct sailing be booked back from Departure Bay to Tsawwassen?
The direct sailing runs one way, from Tsawwassen to Departure Bay, and has no return sailing to book. Departure Bay's own sailings go to Horseshoe Bay.
