Halifax casino moving from downtown to Dartmouth Crossing with expected opening in 2029

The downtown Halifax casino is moving to Dartmouth Crossing.

The Nova Scotia government has announced the casino in downtown Halifax will move across the harbour to Dartmouth.

The current property on Upper Water Street will be listed for sale by real estate agency CBRE Halifax “in the coming weeks.”

The province says it has signed an agreement with Great Canadian Entertainment, which owns Casino Nova Scotia, to build a new location in Dartmouth Crossing.

Great Canadian Entertainment will continue to own, operate and maintain the new casino.

Meanwhile, Casino Nova Scotia’s other location will remain on George Street in Sydney.

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Great Canadian Entertainment for a new, modern casino in Dartmouth. Great Canadian has the expertise and track record we need to ensure the continued success of casino operations in our province,” said acting Finance and Treasury Board Minister Timothy Halman in a provincial news release.

“This move also creates an opportunity for new development in downtown Halifax.”

Halman added there have been discussions for years about a relocation and the area near Ikea is a “great location.”

“You have accessible highways going into Dartmouth Crossing, you have many hotels, you have many restaurants, businesses, you have the land that’s available. Certainly, as a Dartmouth MLA I’m very pleased to see this transaction take place, so this is real positive for Dartmouth and all of HRM and all of Nova Scotia,” he told reporters Wednesday.

The downtown casino opened 25 years ago and was last renovated in 2017.

Great Canadian says the building will be a brand-new, purpose-built casino “that will redefine entertainment and economic opportunity in the region.”

A statement from the company says the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation (NSGC) had the right to acquire the Halifax property from Great Canadian for nominal consideration.

The Crown corporation reportedly provided Great Canadian with notice that it decided to acquire the site, with the intention of selling it to a third party.

Halman wouldn’t speculate on the area being used a possible Bedford ferry terminal location in the future.

“But I can tell you at the end of the day, like any decision government makes, it’s always about best value and a balanced decision,” he said.

Dartmouth councillor Tony Mancini is excited to add entertainment to Dartmouth Crossing, but also for the Halifax waterfront’s future.

“This is a prime location and really exciting to see. Hopefully some iconic type of building, structure that will attract more and more people to our waterfront,” he said.

Great Canadian says the downtown Halifax location will remain fully operational, and no interruptions are expected throughout the construction of the new facility, which is expected to be complete in 2029.

“We recognize the Province’s strong desire to unlock the full value of the property where our Halifax operation currently sits, and we are pleased to move forward with an exciting, refreshed vision for gaming entertainment in the Nova Scotia market,” said Matthew Anfinson, Great Canadian’s CEO, in the statement.

“There is much work to undertake to bring this vision to life, so it is very much ‘business as usual’ for our valued team members and guests at Casino Nova Scotia’s Halifax location.”

The statement goes on to say Great Canadian and NSGC have agreed on an extended 25-year operational term once the Dartmouth Crossing casino opens.

The province says it made $41.6 million from casino operations in Halifax and Sydney in 2025.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Callum Smith.

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