What You’re Actually Getting Here
Great Blue Heron Casino & Hotel sits out on Scugog Island, just beside Port Perry, roughly an hour northeast of Toronto if traffic is kind. The full address is 21777 Island Road, Port Perry, ON L9L 1B6. Doors never really close here: it runs 24 hours a day, every day. It is not a mega-resort with endless towers, but for a regional spot it packs quite a bit into one property - casino floor, hotel, restaurant, event space, plus a retail sportsbook under the same roof.
On the gaming floor you will find more than 550 slot machines. Classic three-reel games, video slots, titles from IGT, Aristocrat, Scientific Games - the mix is fairly solid for the size. Live table games run nearby, with blackjack and roulette usually pulling the biggest crowds. The poker room is tucked away from the main action, which works well: card players can focus without the slot noise constantly spilling over.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Address | 21777 Island Road, Port Perry, ON L9L 1B6 |
| Hours | 24/7, every day |
| Slot Machines | 550+ |
| Minimum Age | 19 years |
| Phone | 905-985-4888 |
| Toll-Free | 1-888-29-HERON |
Minimum age is 19, same as the rest of Ontario casinos. Have government-issued photo ID on you - security checks it at the entrance, and not only when you get to the cage.
Planning the Trip
There is no direct public transit straight to Scugog Island; that is just how the location is set up. For almost everyone, driving becomes the only realistic way to get there. At least parking on site is free, so you are not feeding a meter on top of everything else. Leaving from Toronto, plan for 60 to 90 minutes on the road, depending heavily on the time of day.
Before you jump in the car, a few things are worth sorting out:
Check greatcanadian.com for current promos and upcoming events. They refresh it often, and some offers run only for a short window.
If you care about specific table games or live entertainment, call 905-985-4888 or 1-888-29-HERON. The website does not always show real-time table availability or what is happening that night.
For an overnight stay, use the Great Canadian hotel portal to book a room. Regular check-in time starts at 4 pm.
When you arrive, stop by the rewards desk near the main entrance and grab a player’s card. It tracks your slot play and links you to whatever promotions are active at that moment.
Water’s Edge Restaurant & Bar is the on-site spot for food, right beside the casino floor. It runs breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so you do not have to leave the property to eat.
One small but important point: if you are making the trip mainly for table games, calling ahead usually saves frustration. Game schedules change and some tables may be closed during slower hours, so assumptions can backfire.
The Hotel and The Nest
The hotel part of Great Blue Heron has 116 rooms and suites. On top of that there is a fitness centre and a small business centre, which makes it usable both for a simple weekend casino trip and for someone coming up for a work-related stay. It is straightforward, not flashy or ultra-luxury, but being able to walk upstairs instead of driving back into the city late at night is often all people really want.
The Nest Event Centre sits as a separate venue on the same property. It is about 12,000 square feet, with room for roughly 750 guests. They use it for concerts, private functions, corporate events, and the occasional themed gaming night. This is a purpose-built event space, not just a restaurant with the tables pushed aside. If you are thinking of booking it, the way to do that is by reaching the venue team through the main casino phone line.
| Facility | Capacity / Size |
|---|---|
| Hotel Rooms | 116 rooms and suites |
| Fitness Centre | On-site |
| The Nest Event Centre | ~12,000 sq ft, up to ~750 guests |
| Water’s Edge Restaurant | Breakfast, lunch, dinner |
