Situated in the popular tourist destination of Pointe-au-Pic in La Malbaie, Quebec, the Casino de Charlevoix has become an important part of Charlevoix tourism.
Only 150 kilometres east of the Canadian Quebec City region, Casino de Charlevoix can be found directly next to the historical hotel Fairmont de Manoir Richelieu, which is considered to be a world-class attraction and holiday resort.
History of the Casino de Charlevoix
Casino de Charlevoix was first opened for business in June of 1994, where it was built in the Fairmont de Manoir Richelieu’s former summer playhouse building. The hotel has a rich history in itself, having been operating many decades before in the late 1800’s.
However, a fire destroyed a large portion of the hotel in 1899, necessitating the entire hotel to be rebuilt. This was completed between 1928 and 1929 by Canadian architect John Archibald in order to restore the original 250 hotel rooms that the establishment had once housed.
History and Ownership of the Manoir Richelieu
The Manoir Richelieu, as it was known at the time, operated for many years under the ownership of Canada Steamship Lines until 1966, when the hotel was sold to Warnock Hersey. The hotel changed hands a few times more over the course of the years, being acquired by John Dempsey in 1971 and the Quebec Provincial Government in 1975, as well as another change of hands to Raymond Malenfant in 1986.
Finally, the Loto-Quebec and the Canadian Pacific Hotels company joined ventures with the Solidarity Fund QFL to purchase the hotel from Malenfant, renovating it to become today’s Fairmont de Manoir Richelieu and adding the Casino de Charlevoix as well – the very first land based casino in Quebec to be part of a resort.
Amenities at the Fairmont de Manoir Richelieu
Today, the Casino de Charlevoix and the Fairmont de Manoir Richelieu are considered a world-class casino and hotel complex, attracting visitors from all corners of the world. The hotel now offers 405 rooms and suites, as well as an extended conference centre that can host up to 1,000 guests and amenities such as an in-house spa, a hotel health club, a golf course and outdoor pools that can be used regardless of the weather.
The Fairmont de Manoir Richelieu regularly hosts free shows and events, and a free shuttle service is available to transport guests to nearby locations of interest. In terms of dining, visitors to the hotel will find 4 different restaurants, as well as 2 licensed bars on the premises.
Gaming at the Casino de Charlevoix
Like election betting attracting NZ punters in the season, the Casino de Charlevoix is a major attraction at the hotel, offering over 1,000 slots and video poker machines. There are also more than 20 game tables at the casino, allowing players to play games of keno, poker, baccarat, pai gow, roulette, Caribbean Stud, Let it Ride and Texas Hold’em, among other classic casino games.
Regular casino promotions and tournaments are held at the Casino de Charlevoix, and an electronic games room with interactive roulette, sic bo and blackjack games can also be enjoyed.