PURE Casino Yellowhead, north-west Edmonton

Where the stop sits from Enoch

The address is 12464 153 St NW, Edmonton. From Enoch centre it lies 10.2 km to the north-east, measured in a straight line. The road distance is longer.

The casino sits just off Yellowhead Trail (Highway 16) near 149 Street, on the side of the city close to St. Albert. It opened in 2000. The operator is PURE Canadian Gaming. Since December 2024 that company has been owned by Indigenous Gaming Partners, a group formed by five Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw communities.

Compared with the home base at River Cree Resort & Casino, a few things line up and a few do not. Both keep slots running 24 hours. Parking at both is described as free. River Cree has a hotel on site and a large concert and event venue. This stop is built around its poker room and a smaller showroom.

Phone: (780) 424-9467.

Hours, tables and the poker room

The casino publishes these hours:

• Slots and poker: open 24 hours
• Table games: daily, 10am to 3am

River Cree's tables open an hour later, at 11am, and also close at 3am. River Cree's poker room does not run 24 hours every day, by its own published schedules. Here the poker room is open around the clock.

The poker room runs No Limit Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha and promotes a 3-6 Limit Dealer's Choice game. It also hosts Pure Poker Tour events. The tables include craps, roulette, EZ Baccarat, Bad Beat Baccarat, Free Bet Blackjack, Pai Gow and Ultimate Texas Hold'em. A separate high-limit room has private tables with hosts. The casino's own site counts over 700 slot machines.

The Pearl Showroom is 18+. It seats up to 300, or holds up to 500 standing, and has a stage, a dance floor and a full-service bar with food served at the seats. The listed shows are mostly tribute concerts, plus Art Battle, a magic show and improv comedy. Food elsewhere comes from SNAX Pantry & Wok (daily 11am to 2am), Retro Kitchen & Bar and the Social Bar & Lounge.

Two player programs run side by side. Winner's Edge, the province-wide program River Cree also promotes, earns points on slots and electronic table games. Pure Rewards is the casino's own program, with member offers, kiosk draws and a discount on food and drink. River Cree's own program is its Players Club. Current shows and details are on the casino's official site.

The way in, by car or by bus

By car. Head for Yellowhead Trail near 149 Street. The casino is just off it on 153 Street. Travel Alberta's listing says parking is free.

Without a car. ETS route 905, between Northgate Transit Centre and Westmount Transit Centre, stops on 123 Avenue at 152 Street and at 154 Street. Both stops are a short walk from the casino. Evening and weekend service on this route is not confirmed here, so check the ETS schedule before a late trip. The way back matters more than the way in when the poker room never closes.

What is around the block

• Costco N Edmonton, 12450 149 St NW, a short distance east, with a food court and a gas station.
• El Mero Mero Taqueria, 12223 156 Street NW, a Mexican taqueria close by.
• Chateau Nova Yellowhead, 13920 Yellowhead Trail, about 1.7 km east in a straight line. It is the nearest full-service hotel found and has a restaurant and lounge.
• TELUS World of Science - Edmonton, 11211 142 St NW, about 2.5 km south-east in a straight line, with an IMAX theatre and a public observatory.

What visitors tend to mention

Staff and dealers come up often, usually described as friendly. Some visitors also mention staff who helped sort out a problem.

Food gets mixed notes. The Friday prime rib at Retro and the burgers are praised for large portions at modest prices. Other recent visitors report slow service and orders that arrived cold or badly made.

Many people come for a show in the Pearl Showroom. Recent comments on food and service during shows are mixed.

Before you go

Gambling in Alberta is for adults 18 and over. Casino staff must check government-issued photo ID for anyone who appears to be under 25, so carry it.

The hours on this page are the ones the casino publishes. No holiday hours are listed, so confirm before a holiday visit.

If the trip stops feeling like a night out, help is free and confidential. Call or text 211, or call the Addiction Helpline (Recovery Alberta) at 1-866-332-2322, 24/7 and toll-free. Self-exclusion and other limits are covered on Help and limits. Other stops on the route are listed under Casinos along the way.