Now called · New Westminster
Starlight New Westminster, then and now
Starlight Casino New Westminster stands in Queensborough, New Westminster. December 9, 2007: the Royal City Star riverboat closed its casino, and the casino operation moved ashore.
- Royal City Star1999 to 2007
- Starlight Casino2007
The line of names
January 1996: Gateway moved its New Westminster casino from the top floor of the Royal Towers Hotel to larger premises in the same hotel.
October 6, 1999: the Royal City Star began casino operations in New Westminster as the Royal City Star Casino. The riverboat had once been the Queen of New Orleans. March 23, 2006: ground broke for the $100 million Starlight Casino New Westminster, expected to open in the winter of 2007. December 9, 2007: the riverboat closed its casino, and the casino operation moved ashore.
2007: Starlight Casino opened. The boat stayed in the record a little longer: in 2011, the vessel was owned by Gateway.
Who runs it
Gateway Casinos & Entertainment runs Starlight Casino New Westminster. October 7 and 8, 2026: this guide confirmed that position. No sale, closed or pending, appears in this guide for this casino.
The same operator appears earlier in the line. January 1996: Gateway moved its New Westminster casino within the Royal Towers Hotel. In 2011 the old riverboat was owned by Gateway. Host municipalities typically receive 10% of the net gaming income of the casinos they host.
Who runs it now
Gateway Casinos & Entertainment
Same operator- Mar. 23, 2006Ground broken
- Dec. 9, 2007The riverboat casino closes; the operation moves ashore
What it is now
In Queensborough, Starlight Casino New Westminster stands at 350 Gifford Street, New Westminster. Its phone number is 604-777-2946. Measured in local Pacific time, the casino never closes: day and night, all week, all 365 days of a year. Those hours follow the published schedule, not holidays or temporary changes. Check holiday hours directly with the venue's website.
The floor lists over 935 slots and 54 table games. Off the main floor is a poker room with 7 tables. Racing has a corner too: the racebook at MATCH Eatery & Public House covers thoroughbred and standardbred racing.
Hours · Open 24/7; poker 11 AM to late Sun to Thu, round the clock Fri to Sat
Doors: hours in Pacific time
Holiday hours: check the casino's own site.
Door and way in
Starlight Casino New Westminster admits no one under 19. June 2023 onward: each visitor presents government-issued photo ID on entry. The doors stay open around the clock. From Sunday to Thursday, poker starts at 11 AM and goes until late; on Friday and Saturday it runs all 24 hours.
Racebook hours at MATCH Eatery & Public House: Sunday 9 AM to 9 PM, Monday and Tuesday 12 PM to 9 PM. Wednesday and Thursday run 9 AM to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday 9 AM to midnight. Parking is complimentary, with RV parking on request. Westbound Boyd St @ Gifford St (route 418) is 288 m away and 22nd Street Station 1.6 km, both in a straight line.
- Address350 Gifford Street, New Westminster
- RouteDirections in Google Maps
- Phone604-777-2946
- SkyTrain22nd Street Station, 1.6 km in a straight line
- Door19+ and government-issued photo ID
- Official sitestarlightcasino.ca (not a paid link)
Questions about Starlight Casino New Westminster
Was Starlight Casino New Westminster once the Royal City Star?
It never carried that name, but it followed that riverboat casino. The Royal City Star ran its casino from October 6, 1999, to December 9, 2007, and then the casino operation moved ashore.
Is there free parking at Starlight Casino New Westminster?
Yes, it costs nothing to park: there is a parkade leading to the front door, outdoor lots, and RV parking when requested. The casino is open day and night, all week.