Author For A Day – Local Casino: Niagara Casino

DaWell shares his local casino, Niagara Casino, and compares it to the casinos of Las Vegas.

When I saw the “Your Local Casino” Author for a Day challenge I was initially pleased. “Challenge” I chuckled to myself, not likely. But here I am, as the deadline looms, struggling to contain my article to just the casino. My local casino is Casino Niagara .. yes, I know Fallsview can also be considered local as it’s just over a kilometer away (0.62 miles) but Casino Niagara is my favorite. If you’ve ever been to Niagara Falls, Ontario, it’s very much like a little Las Vegas. Almost everything that you would want to do in Vegas, the Falls has a miniature equivalent to.

This is Clifton Hill, Niagaras mini Strip. Here you will find lots of neon signs, flashing lights and tourist traps galore! Do you want gaming? Check! You want “Las Vegas style magic shows”? Check! You want overpriced restaurants! Check! Wax museums? They have two!

There’s even a smaller version of the High Roller and volcano that occasionally shoots fire ala The Mirage. Here you can see the smoke from an “eruption” that I just missed because the camera on my phone was a tad too slow to boot up.

If you have the itch to visit a smaller version of The Stratosphere without slot machines and none of the charms you can visit Skylon tower! They’ll jam you in a pod reminiscent of something out of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and take you to the top!

Do you enjoy the zipline at Fremont? Niagara has a zipline beside the falls that will get you close enough to the waterfalls that you will get damp! I wanted to get a picture of people actually ziplining, but I waited 20 minutes with no success so here’s a picture of the lines with the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls to the left and the magnificent Horseshoe Falls in the background.

Ah yes… The Horseshoe Falls, Niagaras answer to the Grand Canyon. I know the Grand Canyon isn’t technically in Las Vegas but it’s pretty damn close-ish. They’re both incredible and unique natural wonders that are a nice palate cleanser if the bright lights and loud noises become a bit much for you.

Then, of course, we have the main event, the highlight of every night, the casinos! Fallsview Casino is definitely “The Strip” casino of Niagara Falls. It’s big, colourful and radiates fun. With an attached hotel as well as several different stores and food options, including over 10 restaurants and 2 different buffets, it’s truly a resort (without the resort fees). Here you can find all the newest slot machines and latest in gambling technology, although I’m still waiting for them to add a skill based game to their roster. Casino Niagara is my go-to casino. It’s more of the Fremont style casino. Older, less crowded and it has tables that I can actually afford to sit at!

Casino Niagara sits tucked behind the crowded midways and bizarrely aromatic haunted houses of Clifton Hill.

A beautiful atrium awaits you behind these unassuming doors and atop the steps, 4 fine dining restaurants welcome you to Casino Niagara!

Okay .. so maybe it’s not the finest of dining, but there is a Hard Rock Café directly behind me when I was taking this picture. I was going to take a picture of it too but security was doing a walk around and occasionally glancing at me. I couldn’t tell if he was on to me, or he just couldn’t stop himself from checking out this tall drink of water. Either way, I wasn’t going to take any chances. I didn’t want to risk getting kicked out before I even got inside. Unlike Vegas casinos where I can wander in and out aimlessly, in Ontario, you hit a security checkpoint upon entrance. Nothing serious, just checking IDs then they let you in. After I pass them I hop on the escalator to the first floor of fun. Beside the escalators, there’s a waterfall, sadly it was turned off when I went this time, that didn’t stop people from throwing coins in it though.

On the first floor, there’s a sports betting area (my first stop for an MLB casino odds bet .. which I lost .. Thanks, Tigers!). This floor also has some older slot machines and a small bar/lounge area. This floor also used to have a poker room, but they have since moved it upstairs with the other table games. The former poker room currently sits empty. This would be the perfect spot for a Sigma Derby (hint, hint, casino management).

With basically nothing left to see here, I mosey on up to the second floor of fun. This is where the magic happens. The newer slot machines are located here along with all the essential table games. I quickly glanced around to see if anything catches my eye and decide to saddle up to a Buffalo Gold slot machine .. you know .. for research purposes. I threw a crisp $10 into that slots slot and started pushing buttons. Low and behold after only 5 plays, I hit $47. My research had paid off. Time to cash out of this machine and wander around to see what’s new .. turns out: Nothing!

Everything is comfortably familiar. Apparently, this place has a Yuk Yuks comedy club, I have yet to actually find it though, every time I come here, I totally forget to track it down. This time is no different. I didn’t actually take any pictures inside the gaming area so I’ll have to paint a verbal picture for you. Imagine Binions with higher ceilings, no cigarette smoke, and state of the art washrooms. With a successful gambling day at Casino Niagara under my belt, I decide to leave and see what trouble I can get into. I step out of Casino Niagara and walk through a nice little park … then I see it … my next stop … just to the left of the knock-off Stratosphere … the faint neon glow of a sign that only reads “CASINO”  … Fallsview.

With my bus home leaving in 2 hours, I knew I had to make this fast and count. I walked as quickly as I could without looking like a madman. When I arrived, I was greeted by their outdoor and indoor fountains.

While they’re no match for Bellagio’s fountains, they do feel posh enough to pass for something a Strip casino would have. But enough lollygagging, the clock is ticking and I’ve got some extra cash to play with. I pass security with ease as there was no one in front of me. I enter the expansive gaming area and begin circling the casino floor, examining each machine to see which one looks to be a suitable match for me. I finally choose a Triple Seven Diamond Line 25¢ machine. One machine in the middle of a bank of about 7 or 8. I hit max bet. Nothing. Again. 7-7-7. $114 easy money. I cash out and head to my bus with a smile on my face and plenty of time to spare. This visit to Fallsview was incredibly short and extremely sweet. I guess the house doesn’t always win after all. Goodnight Niagara!

Editor’s Note: If you submitted an article for the Author For a Day Challenge – My Local Casino, please re-send to:

There were issues with that email box where emails were not being received. The issue has since been resolved, so please re-send your “My Local Casino” emails. The new deadline is July 3rd.

[Photos: DaWell]

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