B.C. First Nation Becomes Canada’s Largest Indigenous-Owned Casino Operator
Posted on: November 2, 2025, 07:17h.
Last updated on: November 2, 2025, 07:18h.
- B.C. First Nation completed two other casino acquisitions earlier this year
- River Rock Casino Resort and Chances Maple Ridge the latest to be sold by Great Canadian Entertainment
Snuneymuxw First Nation has announced it has acquired two more British Columbia casinos from Great Canadian Entertainment, the latest in a series of deals that’s fast building the First Nation’s casino property portfolio.
A deal announced in June saw Great Canadian Entertainment sell Casino Nanaimo on Vancouver Island to Petroglyph Development Group Ltd. (PDG). PDG is a wholly owned corporation of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Then, in September, Great Canadian Entertainment announced it was selling another property – Elements Casino Victoria – to PDG.
The latest deal involves the sale of River Rock Casino Resort and Chances Maple Ridge to PDG.
Deal Subject to Regulatory Approvals
With the announcements, upon closing, and with the deal subject to regulatory and other approvals, PDG will become one of the largest casino operators by revenue in B.C. and the largest Canadian Indigenous-owned gaming operator by revenue in Canada.
“Our growing partnership with Great Canadian Entertainment has brought us to what was envisioned by our Ancestors and guided by decades of Snuneymuxw Chiefs and Councils,” said Chief Mike Wyse, Xum’silum, Snuneymuxw First Nation. “By securing ownership in four thriving casino operations, we are realizing a dream of long-term economic independence and creating lasting prosperity for our people and the communities we serve.
Largest Casino Operator by Revenue
“Nation-to-Nation collaboration benefits all of us. We respectfully acknowledge Musqueam, on whose territory River Rock Resort Casino is located, and the Katzie, whose territory includes Chances Maple Ridge. Snuneymuxw looks forward to continuing our conversations with both Nations and exploring the economic development opportunities before us.”
Snuneymuxw is a First Nation of the Coast Salish People, located in the center of Coast Salish territory on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, the Fraser River, Burrard Inlet and the Howe Sound.
Big Shift in B.C. Gaming Landscape
“We believe that this milestone represents a major shift in British Columbia’s gaming landscape,” said Ian Simpson, Yaatqumtun, Chief Executive Officer of PDG. “Under Snuneymuxw ownership, the wealth these properties generate will continue to fuel local growth and reinvestment. Guided by our snawaylth, they will deliver world-class hospitality and entertainment grounded in respect for the interconnectedness of all life.”
No comments yet