British Columbia Casino Ranks Second Worldwide for Responsible Gambling

^{Elements Casino Surrey, owned by Great Canadian Entertainment, has been ranked #1 in Canada and #2 internationally in the Responsible Gambling Council’s RG Check. (Image: Adrian Brown/ Sipa USA / Alamy)}

Elements Casino Surrey, a British Columbia land-based casino, has ranked second in the world for responsible gambling.

Owned by Great Canadian Entertainment, the casino was commended by the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC), an independent non-profit, via its responsible gambling accreditation program RG Check.

Described as “the most comprehensive responsible gambling accreditation program in the world”, RG Check recognizes land-based and online casinos that achieve high standards in their responsible gambling programs.

RG Check evaluates casinos on a broad set of best-practice criteria, including player safeguards, staff training, self-exclusion options, advertising standards and continuous improvement practices.

10 Great Canadian Entertainment-owned casinos accredited 

Accreditation is only awarded to organizations that score 70% and up overall, while they must also achieve at least 50% in each standard area. 

All accreditations are reviewed by an independent panel and remain valid for three years, at which point operators may apply for reaccreditation.

As publishing scores is at the discretion of individual casinos rather than the RGC, it is not yet known which operator took first place globally.

Nine other Great Canadian Entertainment-owned casinos also received accreditation:

• Great Canadian Casino Vancouver
• Chances Maple Ridge
• Casino Nova Scotia Halifax
• Casino Nova Scotia Sydney
• Elements Casino Brantford
• Casino Ajax
• Elements Casino Mohawk
• Great Blue Heron Casino & Hotel
• River Rock Casino Resort

“Receiving RG Check reaccreditation at 10 of our properties in October is a tremendous milestone,” said Keno Maseli, social responsibility and sustainability manager, Great Canadian Entertainment.

“Responsible Gambling is at the heart of our operations, and this recognition reaffirms our unwavering commitment to ensuring our guests can enjoy safe, fun, and sustainable experiences.

This achievement is also a testament to the work of our team members, the Responsible Gambling Council and our Crown partners in setting the high standards of excellence in player protection across our entire portfolio.”

The RG Check was first launched in the 2010s for land-based casinos, before being expanded to also cover online platforms when Ontario opened Canada’s first regulated iGaming market in 2022.

Last year, the RGC set a new milestone, awarding over 44 accreditations, the highest number to date.

Snuneymuxw First Nation agree to purchase two more casinos

Launched in 1982 as the Great Canadian Casino Company, in its early days Great Canadian Entertainment operated two charity casinos at Vancouver’s Pacific National Exhibition, before growing to over 24 operations across Canada.

Currently, the business employs more than 7,500 people across its casinos and resorts, which feature everything from slot machines and table games, to racetracks, restaurants, hotels and concert halls.

Most recently, the group has sold two of its casinos to the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Announced last week, Petroglyph Development Group (PDG) has agreed to purchase River Rock Casino Resort and Chances Maple Ridge.

Once the transactions are complete, PDG is expected to become Canada’s largest Indigenous-owned gaming operator by revenue, and one of the biggest casino operators in British Columbia.

The Snuneymuxw First Nation previously purchased Great Canadian’s Casino Nanaimo and Elements Casino Victoria in separate deals announced last year, which closed in January 2025.

All four casinos transferring from Great Canadian to Snuneymuxw will remain under the oversight of the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.