No. 1An overview of the venue
Starlight Casino is located on Gifford Street in New Westminster and is run by Gateway Casinos & Entertainment. The operator describes the building as a contemporary design with a subtle Asian flair.
The distance to River Rock Casino Resort is about 12.5 km, and to Richmond city centre about 13.1 km. These distances are measured in a straight line rather than by road, so the journey itself will be somewhat longer.
No. 2Hours and admission
The casino says it operates around the clock, 365 days of the year, 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. Admission is limited to adults aged 19 and over, which is the rule at every casino in British Columbia.
Since June 26, 2023, all guests entering a B.C. casino have been required to present original, government-issued photo ID at the entrance. Pictures of ID and photocopies will not be accepted. Staff scan each document and compare it with the register of people restricted from entry, a register that includes those enrolled in Game Break. For guests who are admitted, no personal information is stored. A driver's licence, a BC Services Card, a BCID and a passport are among the accepted documents.
Starlight is part of the Encore Rewards programme. There is no fee to join, and enrolment is handled at Guest Services once you show valid ID.
No. 3Gaming at Starlight
The floor includes 54 gaming tables and over 935 slot machines, as well as Stadium Gaming and VIP gaming.
Just off the main floor is the poker room, which has seven tables. It operates 24 hours on Friday and Saturday. From Sunday through Thursday it opens at 11 am and stays open until late; no closing time is published for those days. To reserve a seat or confirm which games are running that evening, you may wish to telephone the poker room on 604-777-3500.
Off-track wagers may be placed in the Racebook on standardbred and thoroughbred races held around the world. The Racebook is found inside MATCH Eatery & Public House, and its schedule differs from that of the casino floor:
| Days | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, Tuesday | 12 pm | 9 pm |
| Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday | 9 am | 9 pm |
| Friday, Saturday | 9 am | midnight |
No. 4Restaurants and facilities
Guests have a choice of two restaurants:
- MATCH Eatery & Public House, a casual, multimedia restaurant
- Kirin Restaurant, offering Chinese cuisine
Current menus and hours for each are posted on the venue's own site.
No charge is made for parking. A parkade connects directly with the main entrance, and several outdoor lots are also provided. Parking for RVs can be arranged on request.
The casino states that its facility is accessible. On request, the venue can provide wheelchairs, accessible formats and communication supports.
No. 5How it compares with River Rock
The two venues share a good deal: each has slots, live tables, Stadium Gaming, a poker room and a racebook, and each belongs to Encore Rewards. Where their published figures differ, they are set out below.
| Starlight Casino | River Rock | |
|---|---|---|
| Slot machines | Over 935 | Over 1,100 |
| Live tables | 54 | More than 80 (operator figure, June 2026) |
| Poker tables | 7 | 10 |
| Poker hours | Sunday to Thursday, from 11 am until late; Friday and Saturday, 24 hours | Monday to Thursday, 10 am until 4 am; from Friday 10 am through Monday 4 am |
| Racebook | Inside MATCH, with hours that vary by day | Every day, 9 am until late |
River Rock also has an on-site hotel and The Show Theatre, and it sits about 150 m in a straight line from Bridgeport Station on the Canada Line. Further details are on the River Rock Casino Resort page.
No. 6Before your visit
Offerings and hours are subject to change, so you may wish to check them by telephone or on the official Starlight Casino site before setting out. For travel from Richmond, the desk recommends using TransLink or a map service to plan your route.
Kindly remember your photo ID. Every B.C. casino has GameSense Advisors on site, and Gambling Support BC provides a free line that is open around the clock: 1-888-795-6111.
Should you wish to consider other venues in the region, the desk maintains a register of casinos near Richmond.