Canada: Musqueam and Snuneymuxw First Nations announce plan to acquire River Rock Casino Resort
Summary
The Musqueam Indian Band and the Snuneymuxw First Nation have reached an agreement in principle to jointly pursue acquisition of River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, British Columbia, currently owned by Great Canadian Entertainment. River Rock is the province’s top-performing casino, with a 70,000 sq ft gaming floor, about 1,100 slot machines, 75 table games, nearly 400 hotel rooms and a 1,000-seat theatre. Its lease with Great Canadian runs until December 2041.
The Musqueam has been exploring options to acquire the site as part of its long-term development strategy; Snuneymuxw approached Musqueam in September 2025 to propose a partnership. Both Nations have issued statements stressing partnership, respect for traditional territories and shared economic benefits.
Musqueam holds historic ties to the land — a 2008 reconciliation agreement with British Columbia transferred the River Rock site and the nearby University Golf Course to the First Nation, with CAD 70 million in settlement funds provided at the time. Separately, Snuneymuxw’s development arm, Petroglyph Development Group (PDG), is acquiring Chances Maple Ridge Casino and earlier in 2025 bought Casino Nanaimo and Elements Casino Victoria, positioning Snuneymuxw to become the province’s largest Indigenous-led casino operator if the deals close and gain regulatory approval.
Key Points
- The Musqueam Indian Band and Snuneymuxw First Nation have an agreement in principle to jointly acquire River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, BC.
- River Rock is British Columbia’s top-performing casino, generating CAD 252 million in gambling revenue in 2024–25 (CAD 162m slots; CAD 90m table games).
- Great Canadian Entertainment is accepting bids for the property’s business and its gaming licence; the resort’s lease runs until December 2041.
- Musqueam received CAD 70 million from the provincial reconciliation settlement in 2008 when lands including the casino site were transferred; the University Golf Course must remain operational until at least 2083.
- Snuneymuxw’s PDG has been expanding rapidly (Casino Nanaimo, Elements Casino Victoria, Chances Maple Ridge) and could become the largest Indigenous-led operator in BC if transactions proceed and regulators approve.
Context and relevance
This is a notable development for Indigenous economic self-determination in Canada and for the gaming industry in British Columbia. Ownership of a major, high-revenue casino would deepen First Nations’ roles in the provincial gaming market and shift operational control from an established operator to Indigenous-led entities. The deals also intersect with reconciliation settlements, land rights and long-term land‑use constraints (notably the golf course covenant).
Author style
Punchy: This isn’t just another property sale — it’s a potential transfer of one of BC’s biggest gaming assets into Indigenous hands, with real implications for jobs, revenues and regional power dynamics. Read the detail if you follow gaming markets or Indigenous economic development.
Why should I read this?
Quick and simple: two First Nations are teaming up to try to buy BC’s top casino. If you care about who runs big gaming venues, how Indigenous groups expand commercial portfolios, or shifts in provincial gaming ownership, this story matters — and it could change who benefits from millions in annual revenue.
