The casino in a few lines
Starlight Casino is at 350 Gifford Street in New Westminster. In a straight line it is 9.8 km from the casino on United Boulevard and 16 km from Coquitlam City Centre. That makes it the nearest casino to United Boulevard as the crow flies.
Gateway Casinos & Entertainment runs it. No closing hour here: it runs day and night, all week, through every one of the year's 365 days. The main line is 604-777-2946.
Getting in
The rules at the door are the same across British Columbia. The minimum age is 19. Whatever their age, all guests have had to present government-issued photo ID to get in since June 26, 2023.
Security scans each ID, then runs it past the list of people barred from gambling facilities, with Game Break enrollees among them. BCLC says it stores no personal information for people who are let in.
Bring the original card. Photos or copies are not accepted. A driver's licence, BC Services Card, BCID or passport all work. The full list is on our first visit page.
On the floor
The casino lists over 935 slot machines and 54 gaming tables. It also has Stadium Gaming and VIP gaming.
Poker: A seven-table poker room sits right off the main casino floor. It runs on a separate schedule. Sunday to Thursday, play starts at 11 AM and goes until late. Friday and Saturday are 24 hours. No weekday closing time is published, so call the poker room at 604-777-3500 before a late trip.
Racebook: MATCH Eatery & Public House is where guests bet off-track on thoroughbred and standardbred races from all over the world. The racebook keeps these hours each week:
- Sunday: 9 AM to 9 PM
- Monday and Tuesday: 12 PM to 9 PM
- Wednesday and Thursday: 9 AM to 9 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 9 AM to midnight
Encore Rewards: Membership is free and handled at the Guest Services desk with valid ID.
Food, drink and the rest
There are two named places to eat. MATCH Eatery & Public House is a casual, modern spot with plenty of screens. Kirin Restaurant serves Chinese cuisine. The casino publishes dining details on its own site, so check there for current hours.
Parking costs nothing. Use one of several outdoor lots, or the parkade that opens right onto the front door. RV drivers can ask for parking.
The building is set up so guests with disabilities can get around. Just ask for a wheelchair, accessible formats or communication supports.
Compared with United Boulevard
Here is how the two line up, using each venue's own published figures. More on the Coquitlam side is on our United Boulevard casino page.
| Starlight | United Boulevard | |
|---|---|---|
| Slots | Over 935 | Over 920 |
| Tables | 54 gaming tables | 37 live tables, plus 42 electronic tables |
| Poker room | 7 tables | 10 tables |
| Poker hours | 11 AM to late Sun to Thu; 24 hours Fri and Sat | Mon to Thu 10 AM to 4 AM; Fri to Sun 24 hours |
| Rewards | Encore Rewards | Encore Rewards |
| Run by | Gateway Casinos & Entertainment | Petroglyph Development Group (from May 5, 2026) |
The slot floors are close in size. Starlight's draw for a Coquitlam visitor is mostly Kirin. Poker here happens in a smaller room that opens at 11 AM, with nonstop play all through Friday and Saturday.
For a concert or comedy night, United Boulevard has The Show Theatre, covered on the theatre nights page.
Before you go
- Bring original government-issued photo ID.
- Check poker, racebook and dining hours on the official Starlight site. Hours can change.
- For the route from Coquitlam, TransLink's trip planner or a map will give you the options.
- Decide on a budget before you leave home, and treat it as the cost of a night out.
Every BC casino has a GameSense Info Centre near the gaming floor. Should gambling stop being fun, Gambling Support BC can be reached free of charge, 24/7, at 1-888-795-6111. More on our gambling support page.
If you are comparing other options, the flyer covers nine casinos across Metro Vancouver.