Casino Regina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Casino Regina |
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Casino Regina
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| Location | 1880 Saskatchewan Drive Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 0B2 |
| Opening date | January 26, 1996 |
| Theme | Union railway station (actual former use) |
| Notable restaurants | Last Spike, Rail Car |
| Casino type | Land |
| Owner | Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation |
| Architect | J.F. Orroch |
| Previous names | Union Station (railway station) |
| Renovated in | 1995 (converted to a casino), 2001, 2009 |
| Coordinates | 50°27′10″N 104°36′31″W / 50.452737°N 104.608727°W |
Casino Regina is a special building in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It's located on Saskatchewan Drive. This exciting place used to be a busy train station called Union Station. It was built with strong Tyndall and ashlar stone in 1912. Today, Casino Regina is owned and run by Sask Gaming. It offers lots of entertainment for visitors.
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A Historic Train Station Transformed
The Union Station building was finished in 1912. It was built in the beautiful Beaux-Arts style. This was actually Regina's third train station. The very first one is now a museum in Broadview.
A big storm called the "Regina Cyclone" hit the city in 1912. It damaged parts of downtown Regina. The station building was expanded in 1931. Its outside look was updated to a simpler Art Deco style. Inside, new floors, marble columns, and fancy ceilings were added.
From Trains to Entertainment
In the early 1990s, train services across Canada were reduced. This led to the closure of Regina's Union Station. The station had been a very important part of Regina's history. It had served the city since it opened in 1912.
After it closed, people wondered what would happen to the building. In 1991, Union Station was named an official heritage site. This meant it was protected because of its historical value.
By 1995, a big construction project began. It cost $37 million to turn the empty station into a new entertainment spot. In 1996, Casino Regina officially opened its doors.
Exploring Casino Regina Today
The building has some interesting secrets in its basement. There are old railway police jail cells there. These cells were used to hold prisoners who were being transported by train. There's also evidence of a tunnel system. People say these tunnels once stretched for several blocks. They even went all the way to the fancy Hotel Saskatchewan. However, these tunnels were destroyed when the Cornwall Centre was built.
Inside the Main Hall
When you go inside, you'll see a schedule board on a wall in the main hall. It still shows the train arrivals and departures from 1990. That was the day the train station closed. The main hall itself used to be the station's main waiting area. It has a very high ceiling with simple chandeliers. There's also a clock high up on the back wall.
Fun Things to Do
Casino Regina has many ways to have fun. It has about 800 slot machines and 35 table games. There's also a special room for poker with 9 tables. The Show Lounge can hold 800 people. It often features different entertainers.
You can also get a meal at The Last Spike and Rail Car restaurants. There are also the CPR Lounge and VIP Lounge. If you like history, you can take a Union Station historic tour. These tours happen regularly. At night, you can enjoy cool LED shows.
Casino Regina is a big employer in the city. It provides jobs for 664 people. More than half of these employees are Aboriginal.
