Rideau Carleton Casino – A Night of Construction, Slots, and Surprises

With all the hype surrounding the future Hard Rock Ottawa, I figured it was time to check out Rideau Carleton Casino before the big transformation was complete. I had heard mixed reviews—some people saying it’s on its way to becoming a top-tier spot, others complaining about the ongoing construction making it a nightmare to navigate. I decided to go in with $1,000, ready to test the waters.

First Impressions: A Casino in Transition

Walking in, it was clear that this place is still a work in progress. There were areas blocked off, machines crammed together, and an overall sense of disorganization. The floor felt smaller than expected due to the renovations, making it feel a bit cramped when the place got busy.

One thing that did stand out was the horse racing track. It’s a unique feature you don’t see at most casinos, and I made a mental note to check it out later. The restaurant, Mr. Lucky’s, had some solid reviews, so I figured I’d grab a bite after playing for a while.

The Slots: A Rocky Start

I started off with Buffalo Gold, a machine that’s either incredibly generous or completely brutal. I put in $300, betting $3.75 per spin.

• First 50 spins? Nothing.
• Spin 80? Still no bonus.
• By spin 100, my balance was at $25.

Not the best start. I cashed out the little I had left and moved on.

Next up was Dragon Link, a game I’ve had some luck with in the past. I threw in $200, betting $5 per spin. Within 15 minutes, I triggered a Hold & Spin bonus, which gave me a decent $250 win. Not exactly life-changing, but it helped recover some losses.

At this point, I was down $250 and needed to switch things up.

Electronic Blackjack: The Comeback

Since the live table games were still affected by the renovations, I opted for electronic blackjack. I bought in for $500 and started betting $25 per hand.

My blackjack strategy is pretty simple:

• Always double down on 11
• Split 8s and Aces
• Never take insurance
• Hit 16 against a dealer’s 7 or higher

The first few hands weren’t great—I lost four in a row and was already thinking about walking away. But then things turned around.

• Doubled down on a 10 against a dealer’s 5 – won $50.
• Hit a blackjack – won $37.50.
• Won three hands in a row, bringing my balance back up to $600.

I kept playing for another 30 minutes, sticking to the same betting style, and eventually walked away with $850.

Not bad at all—I was still down, but at least blackjack stopped the bleeding.

One Last Shot at a Big Win

I decided to take one last risk before leaving. I found a high-limit slot machine and put in $100, betting $10 per spin.

• First spin? Nothing.
• Second spin? Small $30 win.
• Third spin? Jackpot Bonus.

When the round was over, my balance had jumped to $1,500. Just like that, I was up $500 for the night.

Final Thoughts: Worth the Visit?

Rideau Carleton Casino is in a weird place right now. It’s clearly going through a massive transformation, and it shows. The casino floor feels smaller, and the machine selection is limited compared to other spots. If you like live table games, you might want to wait until the renovations are done.

That said, the experience wasn’t all bad. The staff were friendly, blackjack saved my night, and hitting that jackpot at the last minute made the trip worthwhile.

Would I go back? Maybe, but probably after the Hard Rock transformation is complete. Right now, it’s a casino that feels like it’s stuck between what it used to be and what it’s trying to become.