BC casino ownership changes since 2024

The first two sales closed together. On January 16, 2025, Petroglyph Development Group, wholly owned by Snuneymuxw First Nation, closed its purchase of Casino Nanaimo and Elements Casino Victoria from Great Canadian. Both sales had been announced in 2024: Casino Nanaimo on June 24 and Elements Casino Victoria on September 10. In Petroglyph's own words, "all profits go back to the Nation".

Petroglyph took over Great Canadian Casino Vancouver in Coquitlam on May 5, 2026. That sale was first announced on December 19, 2025, and the casino uses the Great Canadian name under a limited licence.

River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond changed hands on June 16, 2026. Since that date it has been owned by a partnership of Petroglyph Development Group, of Snuneymuxw First Nation, and Musqueam Capital Corp, of the Musqueam Indian Band. The partners bought it from Great Canadian Entertainment.

Great Canadian agreed to sell the casino portion of Hastings, with its casino-related real property, to Tsleil-Waututh Nation. A memorandum of understanding came on June 6, 2025, and a definitive agreement followed on November 7, 2025. The deal is subject to regulators and the City of Vancouver.

Elements Casino Surrey is the second agreed sale. On March 9, 2026, Great Canadian agreed to sell it to SE-MI-AH-MU Development Corporation of Semiahmoo First Nation. The sale is subject to regulators and the City of Surrey, which owns the land. Great Canadian is to provide transition services for up to one year after closing.

Live harness racing at Fraser Downs, next to Elements Casino Surrey, ended on August 15, 2025, when the City of Surrey ended the racetrack lease. The track has since been torn down.

At Hastings, the last live race of the 2025 season was run on October 19, 2025. On December 5, 2025, Great Canadian said it would no longer run a racing season there, effective immediately. The province ended slot-revenue funding for racing effective January 31, 2026. Races from other tracks are still shown at Hastings by simulcast.

The regulator changed on April 13, 2026. That day the Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO) replaced the former provincial regulator, and BC's new Gaming Control Act came into force. Since April 1, 2026, the 24/7 line and free counselling of Gambling Support BC have run as one provincewide service.