Tsleil-Waututh Nation reaches deal to buy Vancouver's Hastings Casino from Great Canadian Entertainment

The Tsleil-Waututh Nation has reached an agreement to acquire the casino operations at Vancouver’s Hastings Racecourse & Casino from Great Canadian Entertainment, growing the presence of Indigenous ownership in British Columbia’s gaming sector.

The deal, signed on November 7 following months of negotiations, gives the Nation control of the casino business and its related real estate interests at the long-standing Hastings site.

The transaction follows a non-binding understanding between the parties announced in June and is still subject to regulatory and municipal approval, including from the City of Vancouver, which owns the land at Hastings Park.

Hastings Casino has been part of Vancouver’s entertainment scene for generations, operating more than 400 slot machines and serving as one of the few venues that combines gaming and hospitality within the city limits.

Chief Justin George said the acquisition carries meaning for the community. “We are excited about this next step towards economic self-determination for our Nation in our traditional territory, which will bring benefits to our community and the next seven generations,” he said.

He credited the Nation’s administrative and financial leadership for bringing the project to completion. Great Canadian Entertainment, one of Canada’s largest gaming operators, has owned and managed the Hastings casino for over two decades. CEO Matt Anfinson described the deal as a milestone for both organizations.

“We are proud to announce an agreement for the sale of this landmark casino business to TWN,” he said. “It has been an honour to steward the casino at Hastings Racecourse & Casino for over 20 years, and we recognize the important role this transaction plays in TWN’s economic self-determination.”

KPMG Corporate Finance is advising the Tsleil-Waututh Nation on the deal, while McCarthy Tétrault LLP is providing legal counsel. Great Canadian Entertainment is represented by McMillan LLP. Under the agreement, the company will continue to assist the Nation during a transition period after the sale is finalized.

Since mid-2024, Great Canadian has agreed to sell six of its nine casinos in the province to First Nations groups. Among the latest is a pending sale of Elements Casino Chilliwack to the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe, a collective of seven Indigenous communities in the Fraser Valley.

Squiala First Nation Chief David Jimmie, who also serves as President of the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe Management Ltd., said local ownership represents an investment in the region’s long-term prosperity.

“The revenues generated through this acquisition will help strengthen our communities, create new opportunities, and ensure our Nations continue to play a leading role in the local economy,” he said. “Additionally, we believe that local community-based ownership of Elements Casino Chilliwack will further strengthen the broader Fraser Valley community and economy.”

The move also follows earlier transactions transferring Casino Nanaimo, Elements Casino Victoria, River Rock Casino Resort’s operations, and Chances Maple Ridge to First Nations ownership.