Hard Rock Casino Ottawa Guide 2026 – What to Know Before You Visit

What is Hard Rock Casino Ottawa?

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa sits on the site of the former Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa's south end, rebranded and expanded after Hard Rock International took over the property. It combines a full casino floor — slots, table games, and a poker room — with harness racing, a hotel, and live entertainment, making it one of the largest gaming venues in the National Capital Region.

What happened to Rideau Carleton Raceway?

Rideau Carleton Raceway operated as a slots-and-racing venue for decades before its gaming operation was rebuilt and rebranded under the Hard Rock name. Harness racing still runs at the same site — Hard Rock Ottawa is effectively the modernized, expanded version of the same property, so searches for either name point to the same location.

Games and amenities

Expect a large slots floor, table games including blackjack and roulette, a poker room, several restaurants and bars, live music tied to the Hard Rock brand, and an on-site hotel. It's a land-based, Ontario-regulated venue — you need to be physically present to play.

Ontario casinos near Ottawa

Hard Rock Ottawa is the main large-scale casino in the immediate Ottawa area. If you're planning a trip elsewhere in eastern Ontario, Thousand Islands Charity Casino in Gananoque is roughly 90 minutes away.

Prefer to play online instead?

If a trip to a land-based casino isn't practical, Ontario has a fully regulated online gambling market. Our best online casinos in Ontario guide covers licensed operators offering slots, live dealer tables, and sports betting with Interac deposits — all playable from home.

Responsible gambling

18+ only. Help is available at ConnexOntario, 1-866-531-2600.