Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Highly entertaining . . . |
| Disadvantages: |
chances are you'll lose every penny in your wallet . . . |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
The mind boggles when I think of all the money I have lost in this casino... but let's not go there!
First of all, the Casino is not situated In Montreal itself, but on an island called Ile Ste Helene. Acces is easy, either by car or public transportation. Parking is free, as is the shuttle service that will ferry you back and forth from your car to the casino itself. There is a secure area where coats are kept (open in winter), and this service, too, is free... as is the use of a wheelchair if such is necessary. (very nearly needed one last time I visited the casino... still can't believe I lost that much money)!
The casino is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day... careful though, because public transportation is only available till 00:45AM from Sundays to Fridays... and 1:15AM on Saturdays. If you miss the last buses, then you are OH SO STUCK!!! Unless, of course, you don't mind gambling your life away till the early light of dawn...
What to do once you're there? Obviously... there's the gambling... but I strongly suggest, that while you still have money in your wallet, that you visit the Cabaret Casino for an evening of live entertainment whilst you savour an excellent meal. The entertainment varies from month to month, and is always excellent. Prices are high though... the entertainment is free, but the food is not! Expect to pay between £30 and £90 per person. The price will depend on your meal selection and whether or not you want wine and dessert.
Don't want to sit down to a good meal and be entertained, but you're hungry and want a quick bite to eat... well then don't worry, there are numerous restaurants and cafes within the casino itself... prices vary for each, but the wisest choice (if you're strapped for money) would be to visit the buffet. The buffet offers a variety of different foods, and is based on a self-serve all-you-can-eat formula which will cost you under £20 per person.
Please note that the casino is NOT child friendly... access is restricted to 18+, and interior and exterior security guards make certain visitors are within the legal age limit. If you're thinking... "I'll be 17 next week... they'll never know"... THINK AGAIN! The casino is NOT publicly owned... it is regulated by the government itself, and the security guards will demand identification if they even suspect you are a minor. Trust me, if you're under 18, it's easier to get into a bank vault than it is to get into the casino.
Also, please note that there IS a formal dress code at the casino, and you will be turned away at the door if you appear in jeans and a t-shirt. The following items of clothing are not permitted within the casino or any of its restaurants and bars:
Camisoles, corsets, all tops showing any part of the stomach, hoodies, baseball or other sports caps, shorts, bermudas, leggings, beachware, work boots or motorcycle boots, and any item of clothing sporting a violet slogan or image or what might be considered, by the casino, to be violent.
And there you go... best, if you plan on spending a relaxing day losing your money, that you follow the dress code. I once appeared in jeans and a shirt, and was promptly turned away at the door... I was absolutely livid, especially as I had to drive the 60 minutes back home in order to change clothing... took me over 2 hours in all whilst everyone else in my group waited inside for me.
There are other rules and regulations... strictly upheld, and it's always a smart move to read up on them before visiting... at the moment, they have banned all alcoholic drinks from the gaming areas, they have also banned cameras from the building, and there is not a sigle area where you are allowed to smoke.
True, the dress code (upheld in an effort to retain a good international image) is a bummer, the lack of drinks in the gaming area is somewhat a nuisance, and for smokers, the no-smoking policy is bound to be daunting... but none of this will truly matter once you enter the Casino de
Montreal, and get caught up in the splendour and excitement of what is considered one of the world's largest casinos. The casino can hold up to 4,000 people, and boasts 3,200 slot machines, 115 game tables, a keno salon, a Royal Ascot electronique horse race course, and a high flyers (don't go there, trust me) area for those who can afford to lose dizzying amounts of money!
The atmosphere inside the casino is incredible.. as is the decor. The ground floors (talking about the floors themselves) are made of glass, and water flows beneath this glass... it makes for a dizzying moment when first you enter, as there isn't a single human being alive who won't cringe at walking on a glass floor for fear of going through it. Don't worry though, perfectly safe (so they say)... anyways, the rest is just as spectacular and typically what you would find in an expensive gambling establishment... red walls, high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, glass floors, thick plush red carpeting, red velvet curtains, lots of gilded mirrors, and other gilded statues and accessories... the list goes on, and is extremely impressive.
There are numerous bank tellers and foreign exchange tellers within the casino, as well as ATM machines, all of which, including the machines, are all too happy to help you get rid of your excess cash. There is also the Casino Boutique where you will find the perfect souvenir to mark your day at the casino, or purchase sweets and lottery tickets (as if you really need to purchase the latter in a casino).
The Casino de Montreal is worth a visit, but I suggest you leave your wallet and cards at home, and take only what you are prepared to lose... it also helps (from personal experience) to make certain you have a quarter (25p coin) in your pocket in case you need to make a phone call. Also... don't forget the dress code, and leave your camera at home.
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