PURE Casino Edmonton Review for July 2024

Are you looking for something fun and exciting to do tonight? Perhaps you’d like to relax while enjoying a delicious meal? Maybe you would like to do some dancing or check out some live entertainment? How about playing some poker or popular casino games like slots, blackjack, or roulette? Coincidentally, I was facing the same dilemma on a recent Saturday. What did I do? My solution was to combine all of these activities by visiting PURE Casino in Edmonton.

After arriving at PURE Casino Edmonton, I had a tasty and reasonably-priced dinner as I sipped on a couple of beverages while watching an Edmonton Oilers game on a big screen. I then played some casino games before spending a couple of hours playing poker. I capped off my evening by catching the end of a live show. 

This PURE Casino Edmonton review will tell you all about it and explain what you can expect next time you visit.

PURE Casino’s history dates back to 1986. The casino is owned by PURE Canadian Gaming, which has been in business since 1973. In 2023, VICI Properties acquired four new casinos, including PURE Casino Edmonton. 

It recently underwent a pretty big renovation and now boasts over 72,000 square feet of modern gaming space. Visitors will find close to 900 slots, over two dozen gaming tables, electronic table games, and a poker room. What more could you want?

PURE Casino Edmonton is located at 7055 Argyll Road Northwest, bordered by Girard Road and 76 Avenue NW. It is easily accessible by city transit, taxi, or ride-share. Those who wish to drive in can park for free in a secure parkade.

The complex is a modern building although it doesn’t really offer any outstanding features. However, the newly renovated interior is spacious, clean, and nicely decorated. I also thought that the lighting was perfect – bright enough to see everything without being too harsh on the eyes. 

Being fully wheelchair accessible, there is plenty of room in the aisles, and you don’t have to navigate through an endless maze of slots to get where you want to go. Even though the overall atmosphere is a relaxed one, I loved how the sounds of the slots and the buzzing crowd emit a sense of high energy.

There is no shortage of gaming options at PURE Casino Edmonton, and it all starts with the slot machines. I’m not the biggest slots fan around, but even I couldn’t resist the temptation of at least attempting to take down that huge $1.1 million Diamond Millions progressive jackpot. I also tried my luck on 88 Fortunes and a couple of other machines. I didn’t win any jackpots or big payouts, but I think I broke even, which is a victory in itself. 

I then wandered over to the poker room, which was running Texas Hold ‘Em and Omaha games for a variety of stakes. I settled on the 1/3 Hold ‘Em action. Most players at my table seemed to be of the recreational variety, although at least two were quite well-versed in the finer points of the game. 

I should point out that the dealers were nothing short of professional, and the food and beverage service was great. The room was clean, the chairs were comfortable, and the tables looked relatively new. The poker room is ideal for tournament players who enjoy regular poker competitions with buy-ins that suit almost all budgets.

After about four hours of poker, I left the poker room and headed back to the main casino floor to test my luck at a few tables. Before I get into that, I should tell you that unlike the slots and poker room, which are open 24/7, the tables only operate between 10AM and 3AM. Of course, you can always play electronic table games during off hours. 

As is usually the case, the roulette table was surrounded by an upbeat and chatty group of players. It was a similar story over at the craps table. However, I was in the mood for something different, so I took a seat at the DJ Wild Stud Poker Table. 

It’s a simple game in which you need to have a better 5-card poker hand than the dealer. The big catch is that the deck holds a joker that acts as a wild, as do all of the twos. It soon became clear that the gambling gods were having a bit of fun at my expense, so I packed it in and moseyed over to the blackjack table. On my way, I passed by a couple of baccarat games and some other casino poker variants like four-card poker.

The complex does not offer on-site accommodations, but there are several nearby hotels, including the three-star Sheraton Four Points, which is a short two-minute walk away.

Before immersing myself in the gambling action, I decided to sit down for a late lunch. PURE Casino has four dining establishments. The Center Bar is located in the middle of the casino floor and serves up a variety of pub fare and beverages, along with an all-day breakfast menu. Meanwhile, SNAX Pantry & Wok offers a range of Asian cuisine, as well as other popular choices like sandwiches, chicken wings, and even pizza. 

The Mezz looked like a fun sports bar, but it wasn’t open yet, so I opted for the ALTA Kitchen and their steak sandwich. It may have been slightly overpriced, as I expected, but it was still very good.

Of course, the main attraction is the gaming floor. Guests can choose from about 900 slots, including several progressive jackpot slots. The Alberta Gold progressives start at $20,000. The Diamond Millions progressive jackpot was sitting at over $1.1 million, while Jackpot Junction was approaching 170K. Even though I didn’t hit any jackpots, just trying was rather exciting. 

In addition to its slot machines, PURE Casino Edmonton has 26 gaming tables, which provide a good range of games for a variety of stakes. Those who desire a more solitary table gaming experience can try PURE Casino’s electronic table games, including Multi-Game stations that have blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, as well as casino poker variants like 3-Card Poker, Caribbean Stud, and Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em.

It's a cash venue, so that means you get your winnings much quicker than the best online casinos. In terms of withdrawal speed, land based properties are the best payout casinos you will find.

If you are interested in watching live performances, dancing, and generally partying it up, then you should check out the Social Room. It has a big stage and loads of room for dancing. As mentioned, PURE Casino doesn’t have a hotel, but there are a lot of them in close proximity, including the Sheraton, Radisson, and the Argyll Plaza Hotel.

Smoking: PURE Casino has a couple of outdoor smoking areas.

Money: You’ll find several ATMs along with a cash cage that accepts credit cards and debit cards.

Customer Service: If you have any questions or encounter any issues during your time at PURE Casino, you can visit Guest Services. The floor staff is also very helpful and friendly.

Food and Drinks: There are four restaurants. The casino does not serve free alcoholic beverages, but non-alcoholic drinks like soda, coffee, and tea are on the house.

PURE Casino is fully wheelchair accessible, which means there is plenty of room in the aisles and you don’t have to navigate through an endless maze of slots to get where you want to go.

One of the first things that you should do when you go to PURE Casino Edmonton is pay a visit to Guest Services and get your PURE Rewards Winners Edge card. You can then use your PURE Rewards card to earn points when you play and table games. For every 1,000 reward points you accumulate, you’ll earn $1 in free play credits that you can use on slots or table games. The program is free to join, and it offers an array of exciting benefits, including:

• Exclusive promotional offers
• Daily, weekly, and monthly draws
• 10% discount at PURE Casino dining establishments (Alcoholic beverages excludes)
• Invitations to special events
• Cash giveaways

PURE Casino Edmonton also runs an assortment of regular promotions. Because these special promotions usually run for a limited time, it’s a good idea to check out PURE Casino Edmonton’s promotions page to see the latest offers. A lot of these promotions involve such things as cash prizes, free entertainment, and food specials. When I was there, PURE was running a promotion that had Edmonton Oilers jerseys up for grabs every day. 

As mentioned at the beginning of this PURE Casino Edmonton review, my goal was to combine a few different activities. PURE Casino rose to the occasion. 

For starters, the casino gives off a true casino vibe. While a lot of modern Canadian casinos are generic and sterile, PURE is nicely decorated and inviting. The lighting gives the gaming floor a warm glow that is conducive to casino gaming in a laid-back setting.

I thought that the establishment was clean even though it was busy. The carpet, walls, tables, and seats were in excellent condition, as were the restrooms. The floor staff, including the dealers, were also very pleasant, as were the restaurant staff. 

While I only ordered a couple of refreshments while I was playing, they were delivered in a jiffy. Speaking of food and beverages, the restaurants combine to offer almost anything you can imagine. They might be a little pricey, but that’s to be expected in a casino. The main thing was that the food was good.

Getting to PURE Casino was easy, too. I took the LRT, which dropped me off right around the corner from the complex. Had I driven there, I would have surely appreciated the free secure parking. The general area seemed safe, which is always a good thing when you are a visitor. 

I was pleased with the gaming options and the overall condition of the gaming areas. While PURE Casino Edmonton might not have as many slots and tables as some other local casinos, I found that there were more than enough options to keep me satisfied. It’s always fun to have a shot at winning over a million dollars. 

I had a very good time in the poker room, even though I lost a few bucks. Again, the regular tournament schedule will appeal to many poker players.

⭐ Standout Moment

My standout moment occurred at the DJ Wild Stud Poker table. I wasn’t familiar with the game, but the dealer took the time to thoroughly and politely explain a few rules as I played. In my experience, dealers don’t enjoy these types of interactions during gameplay. However, this dealer was genuinely friendly, and he went out of his way to make sure I knew what was going on.

I have to hand it to PURE Casino in Edmonton as it exceeded my expectations. After reading a few customer reviews on sites like Trip Advisor and Yelp, I was expecting to walk into a dirty casino that offered mediocre, overpriced food. What I found was a clean, safe casino that offered high-quality eats and excellent service. 

Sure, the food was a tad expensive, but all of the dining establishments had a variety of daily specials for those who don’t want to spend $30 on a steak sandwich and a beer. I also found an excellent selection of casino games and one of the better poker rooms I’ve been to in a while. 

I didn’t mind that PURE Casino didn’t have an on-site hotel. While there’s a lot to do at the complex, I couldn’t see myself spending an entire weekend there. One evening was enough. That said, I would definitely consider going back there, even if it was just for one of the regular poker tournaments. 

If you are looking for something fun to do this evening, then I can definitely recommend PURE. Even if you aren’t into gambling, the dining and nightlife make it worth the trip.