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Rama, near Orillia (ON) · gaming 19+ · Maple review

Casino Rama Resort: the Maple verdict

Updated · hotel facts as of

4.01 / 5B+

No. 7 of 12 in our 2026 ranking
Headliners in cottage country while the keys get redone

Mid-renovation and improving fast, Rama — on Rama First Nation land past Orillia — is a resort in a glow-up: keys renovated floor by floor since 2025, a new spa downstairs and three new kitchens — Gateway's Atlas Steak and Fish the pick of them. Headliners still drive up Highway 400 to play its Entertainment Centre, which seats over 5,000.

Book it fora concert drive up from the GTA, or a lake weekend with a little gaming.
Look elsewhere ifyou are travelling without wheels — it is past Orillia, about two hours from Toronto.

How the score adds up

Room comfort30%3.75
Food & drink20%4.25
Wellness15%4
Gaming15%4.25
Entertainment10%5
Location10%3
Maple score4.01

The glow-up

Rama has operated on Rama First Nation land near Orillia since July 1996. Gateway Casinos — partnered with OLG and Rama First Nation — announced a wide refurbishment in November 2024 covering keys, a larger spa and gym, the floor and new kitchens. By May 2025 the room work had reached floor two and up, and the new spa was already running at ground level.

Keys

289 of them. Gateway has published nothing yet about the renovated rooms, so the desk's tip is simple: when booking, ask whether your floor is finished. That one question decides old room or new.

Water and wellness

Saunas and steam rooms in the new ground-floor spa; the pool is still on level three; a bigger gym is in the plan.

Stage

Full marks. Over 5,000 seats put the Entertainment Centre among Canada's largest casino stages. Shows announced for late 2026 ran from guitarist Jesse Cook to the Righteous Brothers, with Colin James and the Celtic Tenors in between; quoted tickets were about C$25–C$89.

The floor

No machine count from Gateway itself. Wikipedia's — 192,000 sq. ft., about 1,800 machines, 50 live tables — should be read as a rough guide. In May 2025 CTV described new machines on a freshened floor. Ontario rules: 19 to play.

Kitchens

Three openings in about a year. The noodle bar came first (Chow Lucky, fall 2024: wok dishes, soup, bowls). In May 2025 a pub opened by the rotunda (MATCH Eatery and Public House). Then, in November 2025, the headline act: Atlas Steak and Fish at St. Germain's, first Atlas in Ontario. The name remembers George St. Germain, who was chief of Rama First Nation. A Tim Hortons completes the set.

Around Orillia

About two hours from Toronto on Highway 400. Nearby: Hardwood Ski and Bike (winter and summer), the Leacock Museum National Historic Site, and Couchiching Beach Park for sand and gardens.

Desk verdict

Think concert-plus-lake. Ask for a finished floor, reserve at Atlas, and time the weekend to a headliner like most guests do.

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Finding your way there

If you're planning Rama, plan a car or a coach seat — the resort is past Orillia and there's no published public-transit route.

  • If you're driving from Toronto. Rama's own direction sheet: 123.4 km, roughly 80 minutes. North on 400, then Highway 11 (signed Orillia), off at 131A onto Highway 12, along Atherley Road, and finally 5.2 km down Rama Road. That's from a 2020 sheet; the resort's other pages say 90 minutes. Map the drive ↗
  • If you fly into Pearson. There's no official time from the airport; head north on the 400 and follow the same steps. Map the drive ↗
  • If you're already in Orillia. Take Atherley Road, then turn left onto Rama Road — you'll see the casino across from the Shell station. Map the drive ↗

If you'd rather not drive, the resort's VIP coach comes up from the GTA daily (more pick-ups on weekends), run by TOK Coachlines for 19+ My Club Rewards members. Parking is free.

Open the Google Maps listing ↗Start from my location ↗

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Quick questions about Casino Rama

What's changing at Rama during the refurbishment?

Per the plan announced in November 2024: the keys, a spa-and-gym upgrade, the floor and fresh kitchens; the spa and three restaurants opened during 2024–2025.

How long is the drive up to Rama from the city?

Allow about two hours north on Highway 400 from Toronto; the resort sits just past Orillia.

How many seats does Rama's concert hall have?

More than 5,000.

What we checked, and where

Facts checked against these publishers on 23 October 2026. Hotels can change prices, fees and opening hours without notice, so confirm what matters before you pay. Spotted something out of date? Tell the desk. More nearby: Ontario · the 2026 rankings.