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Casino Escapes Canada

Gatineau, Québec · entry age 18+

Hilton Lac-Leamy & Casino du Lac-Leamy: our review

Last updated · facts verified

On the shores of two lakes, a five-star Hilton joins a Loto-Québec casino, ten minutes by car from downtown Ottawa. Pools inside and out, heated all year; a 17-room Amerispa; a 1,100-seat theatre; more than 1,400 slots. No casino hotel in Canada does wellness better.

  • Rooms & views9.0
  • Casino floor7.5
  • Dining8.5
  • Shows & events8.0
  • Pool, spa & fitness10.0
  • Getting there9.0

Ideal for: Spa-first weekends with some casino on the side, or an Ottawa sightseeing base in Gatineau.
Think twice if: Under-18s in your group want the casino, theatre or bars — they're all 18+.

The pitch

Three dates explain the complex. 1996: the Casino du Lac-Leamy opens. 2001: the Hilton, the theatre and the conference centre join it, forming the Hôtel-Casino du Lac-Leamy. 2002: a CAA/AAA Four Diamond rating arrives, on top of the five stars Québec's CITQ has given the hotel since 2001. Hilton runs the rooms; Loto-Québec runs the gaming.

Sleeping

Sources split on the total — Tourisme Outaouais says 349 rooms, Bonjour Québec says 312 rooms and 37 suites. Classic means two queen beds; Deluxe means a king and a dressing table near the door. The top three floors are executive floors with a private elevator and their own service. Suites: Junior, Murphy, One-bedroom. Each room has bathrobes, slippers, a 47-inch TV, a mini fridge, Crabtree & Evelyn amenities and a safe, and the hotel advertises views across Lac Leamy and Lac de la Carrière.

Rooms open at four; checkout is eleven. In-room dining runs every day, 6:30 am to 10:30 pm.

Unwinding: the best in Canada

This is where Lac-Leamy beats everyone. Its pools and hot tubs — indoor and outdoor alike — are heated and stay open twelve months a year. Amerispa runs 17 treatment rooms; the two-hour Serenity package lists at $252 from Monday to Thursday and $308 from Friday to Sunday, with pools, whirlpools, steam bath and sauna included. The fitness centre costs nothing and is open around the clock.

Playing

Weekends, the casino simply doesn't shut — Friday to Sunday it runs around the clock; Monday to Thursday it opens at 9 am and closes at 5 am. Inside: more than 1,400 slot machines, 48 gaming tables, a poker lounge, electronic terminals and Mise-o-jeu sports betting. Québec sets the age at 18, and anyone who looks under 25 should have government photo ID ready.

Shows and nightlife

Théâtre du Casino: 1,100 seats theatre-style, 770 cabaret-style, 18+ except at special events. Bar 7: live bands and DJs from 7 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, Latin night on Thursdays. Bacchus: the quiet room, with scotch, a fireplace and a cigar room. Aléa: the nightclub, 11 pm to 3 am, dress code applies.

Eating

Arôme leads — seafood and grill, overlooking Lac de la Carrière, with a three-course Experience menu and brunch on Sundays. For less, Banco Bistro does rotisserie, pizza and steak, and L'Instant serves Montréal smoked meat, pasta and smoked-meat poutine. The poolside TGV snack bar is shut until next summer.

Getting there

Allow ten minutes' drive to downtown Ottawa (ByWard Market 4.1 km, Parliament 6.4 km, Rideau Canal skateway 7.3 km) and about 25 to the airport. Rapibus, run by STO, stops at Lac-Leamy station. Parking outdoors is free; valet is suspended until further notice. There are EV chargers, and pets up to 34 kg are accepted for $50.

Our take

The calmest casino hotel in Canada, and the handiest for a capital-region trip. Go midweek for the spa — the weekend surcharge is significant — and keep Friday for the casino, which then stays open through the night.

Before you book: common questions

Is Hilton Lac-Leamy close to downtown Ottawa?

Very: roughly a ten-minute drive, with the ByWard Market 4.1 km and Parliament 6.4 km from the hotel.

Does Lac-Leamy's outdoor pool stay open in winter?

Yes. The hotel says its heated pools, indoor and outdoor, are open all year.

What's the casino age at Lac-Leamy?

18, as everywhere in Québec. If you look under 25, expect to be asked for government photo ID.

Where our facts come from

Last fact check: October 23, 2026, link by link through the list above. Hotels move prices, fees and hours without warning — ring or email the property before you commit. Out-of-date detail? Send it our way. Keep planning with Casino Hotels in Québec or the full ranking.