Great Canadian Entertainment has sold the Hastings Casino in Vancouver after 20 years of operation but the 2026 Thoroughbred racing season at Hastings Racecourse is expected to go ahead, according to the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association of British Columbia
The HBPA BC stated on November 10 that the latest stage of the ongoing talks between the Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Great Canadian will not affect scheduled meetings with the track operator to discuss plans for 2026 racing dates.
Meetings have already taken place, with another set to take place two weeks from now. The monthly meeting of the board of the HBPA of British Columbia is scheduled for Thursday evening and the main bullet points will be published here as soon as they become available.
The sale of the Hastings Casino to the Tsleil-Waututh Nation became news in June when a Memorandum of Understanding was announced, taking the horsepeople by surprise.
This past year, Hastings Racecourse saw its year-over-year handle drop from nearly $21.5 million in 2024 to just over $17.5 million in 2025, according to Daily Racing Form statistics.
Total purses also fell from $5,257,500 in 2024 to $4,435,625 in 2025. The 2025 meet had six fewer race days (37 as opposed to 43) and 53 fewer races (235 against 288) than the 2024 meeting.
The Canadian track’s biggest day of wagering came on BC Derby Day, with handle eclipsing $1.1 million. The final-day card on Oct. 18, which featured 10 races, attracted a robust $827,322 in wagering, according to a track press release.
The Tsleil-Waututh Nation press release about the purchase of the casino is published below:
səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) (“TWN”) and Great Canadian Entertainment announced Monday that on November 7th, 2025, they entered into a definitive agreement for the purchase by TWN from Great Canadian Entertainment of the casino portion of the business and the casino-related real property interests at Hastings Racecourse & Casino.
This follows the previous execution of a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding between the parties, which was announced on June 6, 2025.
Hastings Casino is a local entertainment landmark in the heart of Vancouver, British Columbia with over 400 slot machines that provide a diverse range of gaming options for guests, as well as food and beverage, and has been an important part of the Vancouver community for several decades.
“We are excited about this next step towards economic self-determination for our Nation in our traditional territory, which will bring benefits to our community and the next seven generations,” stated Justin George, Chief of səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation).
“I am grateful to our current and previous səlilwətaɬ leadership, as well as our Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Economic Development Department, for advancing and solidifying this opportunity.”
“We are proud to announce an agreement for the sale of this landmark casino business to TWN. It has been an honour to steward the casino at Hastings Racecourse & Casino for over 20 years, and we recognize the important role this transaction plays in TWN’s economic self-determination,” said Matt Anfinson, CEO, Great Canadian Entertainment.
“We will now dedicate our efforts to a successful close of this transaction, as well as supporting the Tsleil-Waututh Nation thereafter.”
The closing of the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and approvals, including by regulatory authorities and the City of Vancouver, as the owner of the underlying real property at Hastings Park. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, the Company will provide transitional services and support to TWN for a period of time following closing.
More News
