Canterbury Park Shakopee is a smoke-free card casino and horse racetrack in Shakopee, Minnesota. Its strongest draws are live poker, table games, and seasonal racing, with free casino admission and on-site parking. I would choose it for cards and horses, not a conventional casino-resort weekend: there are no slots, video poker machines, or attached hotel. It best suits poker players and racing fans, but live racing is seasonal, and the racebook does not keep the casino’s overnight hours.
Canterbury Park at a glance
| Address | 1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee, Minnesota 55379 |
|---|---|
| Property type | Card casino and horse racetrack |
| Casino hours | 24 hours daily, except December 24 at 6 p.m. through December 25 at 6 p.m. |
| Minimum casino age | 18 |
| Casino admission | Free; racing and special-event admission are separate |
| Table games | Blazing 7s Blackjack, Pai Gow, EZ Baccarat, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em |
| Slots and video poker | No |
| Poker room | Yes |
| Retail sportsbook | No; horse-racing wagering is available through the racebook |
| Attached hotel | No |
| Dining | Chips Bar and Restaurant, plus event-dependent food service |
| Parking | Free on-site parking |
| Smoking | Prohibited indoors, including e-cigarettes; heated outdoor smoking area |
| Casino phone | 952-445-6870 |
What kind of casino is Canterbury Park?
Think of Canterbury as two connected destinations: a card casino and a racetrack. You can settle in for poker without attending a race, or make a racing afternoon the whole point of the visit without playing a casino game.
That distinction matters when comparing Canterbury with other Minnesota casinos. A resort spreads its appeal across machines, rooms, restaurants, and recreation. Canterbury concentrates on live cards, racing, and scheduled events. For the right visitor, that focus is a strength. For a group split between poker players and slot players, it is a problem worth resolving before anyone gets in the car.
The property is southwest of Minneapolis. I would treat it as a planned suburban outing rather than an incidental stop during a downtown evening, especially if a tournament start or first post determines your arrival time.
Table games, slots, and video poker
The Discover Shakopee property listing names Blazing 7s Blackjack, Pai Gow, EZ Baccarat, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em, alongside player-versus-player Texas hold’em and Omaha poker.
Do not lump those poker offerings together. Ultimate Texas Hold’em is a house-banked table game; poker-room hold’em puts you against other players. The names overlap, but the experience, strategy, and costs differ.
The published maximum table-game wager is $300. That is a ceiling, not a minimum, and it tells you nothing about the cheapest available seat. Check posted limits, and confirm your preferred game before making a special trip. Side bets deserve a separate place in your budget rather than being treated as pocket change.
Canterbury Park has no slot machines or video poker. If machines are your main attraction, I would choose another property rather than try to make this one fit. Horse-racing terminals and poker-themed table games do not turn a card casino into a machine casino.
Poker room: know the format before you sit down
Poker is one of Canterbury’s strongest reasons to visit. Its casino FAQ describes limit poker with a maximum bet of $100, plus a separate no-limit survival format.
The survival distinction matters. Canterbury describes these games as the closest thing to a no-limit cash game available in Minnesota, not a conventional no-limit cash table. Ask how the format works, what the entry costs are, and how play ends before assuming it matches the game you play elsewhere.
- Limit poker: Ask which games and stakes are running, what the buy-in requirements are, and whether there is a waiting list.
- Tournaments: Check the entry fee, registration cutoff, re-entry rules, and payout structure.
- Omaha or another specific game: Confirm current action rather than relying on its appearance in a general game list.
My advice is to choose the poker format first and the arrival time second. An open casino does not guarantee an active table in the exact game you want.
One published option, the $150 Double Green Chip Bounty NLH, advertises a $50 cash bounty for each player you knock out. That elimination payment distinguishes it from an ordinary tournament payout structure. Check the current schedule and full rules before building a visit around it.
Horse racing, simulcasting, and sportsbook status
Live racing gives Canterbury something a card room alone cannot supply: horses in the paddock, grandstand viewing, and time between races to talk, eat, and reconsider the next wager. It can also suit a mixed group better than an outing spent at separate casino tables.
Live racing is seasonal. Canterbury’s approved 2026 schedule called for 51 racing days between May 23 and September 19. Those were selected dates, not daily racing throughout that period. Use the applicable season’s calendar for a future visit.
Year-round simulcasting lets visitors wager on races at other tracks. The racebook’s published daily hours are approximately 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., much shorter than the casino’s hours.
Canterbury Park has no on-property retail sportsbook. Its racebook handles horse-racing wagering, not sportsbook bets on football, basketball, and other sports.
Published limits and hours: two useful comparisons
The $300 table-game maximum is $200 higher than the $100 maximum limit-poker bet. These are different betting formats, not equivalent session budgets. Neither maximum establishes a minimum wager or buy-in.
The racebook’s approximate 10:30 a.m. opening and 9 p.m. closing provide an estimated 10.5-hour daily window. An overnight poker visit and an evening of simulcast wagering therefore require different timing.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information and our calculations. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Canterbury Park casino: Operating hours and holiday exception | The general FAQ lists around-the-clock casino hours with a Christmas closure. |
| Canterbury Park casino: Minimum entry age | Casino entry requires guests to be at least 18. |
| Canterbury Park casino: Admission cost | Casino entry is free, distinct from live-racing and special-event admission. |
| Canterbury Park Racebook: Admission policy | Racebook admission is free during non-live racing hours. |
| Canterbury Park Racebook: Daily operating hours | The Racebook lists approximate daily hours of 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Canterbury Park table games: Maximum wager | The published maximum table-game wager is $300.00. |
| Canterbury Park poker: Limit-poker ceiling and survival format | Limit poker has a published $100.00 maximum bet; the casino separately describes no-limit survival games. |
| Canterbury Park: Smoking arrangements | Indoor smoking is prohibited, and a heated outdoor smoking location is adjacent to the casino. |
| Canterbury Park: E-cigarette policy | E-cigarettes are prohibited indoors but permitted outdoors. |
| Chips Bar and Restaurant: Daily food service options | The casino FAQ advertises daily food and beverage service with wait service and mobile ordering. |
| Chips bar: Closing time | The published bar closing time is 2 a.m. daily; this statement does not establish kitchen hours. |
| Canterbury Park: Outside food and beverage policy | Outside food and beverages are prohibited; guests with special dietary needs should contact the catering sales team about exceptions. |
| Canterbury Park parking: Published parking cost | Discover Shakopee lists free on-site parking. |
| Canterbury Park parking: Overnight versus long-term parking | Vehicles may remain overnight in the main lot, but long-term parking is prohibited and subject to towing. |
| Canterbury Park live racing: Active military admission | Active military members receive free live-season admission with valid identification. |
| Canterbury Park live racing: Approved 2026 season | The announced 2026 meet comprised 51 racing days scheduled between May 23 and September 19, rather than daily live racing throughout that interval. |
| Canterbury Park live racing: Announced regular 2026 post times | The season announcement lists evening starts on Thursdays and Saturdays and afternoon starts on Sundays and holidays. |
| Canterbury Park live racing: Final-week 2026 post-time exception | The season announcement specifies a different final-week post time of 4 p.m. |
| Canterbury Park live racing: Weather and cancellation policy | Races generally proceed in rain, but safety-related cancellations are posted on the property’s homepage and social media. |
| Canterbury Park lodging partners: Separate nearby lodging options | The visitor page promotes hotel partners minutes from the park; the passage does not establish room rates or shuttle service. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Difference between published table-game and limit-poker maximum bets | $200.00 | The published table-game ceiling is higher than the limit-poker bet ceiling; neither figure establishes a table minimum or a session budget. |
| Approximate daily Racebook operating window | 10.5 hours per day | Plan simulcast wagering around the Racebook’s own operating window rather than assuming it follows the casino’s overnight hours. |
Research references: canterburypark.com 1, canterburypark.com 2, discovershakopee.org, canterburypark.com 4, canterburypark.com 5.
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-17. Illustrative assumptions are labeled, and the full calculation inputs remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
For first-time racing bettors, I would set a total betting budget before the opening race. With exotic bets, your selected combinations can make the ticket cost more than the base wager suggests. Ask the teller to confirm the total before completing the purchase.
Hotels and overnight planning
Canterbury does not have an attached hotel. Its visitor page lists nearby hotel partners, including Comfort Inn, Fairfield, Holiday Inn, Hampton, and Sandalwood.
A nearby room can be useful for a tournament or late poker session, but it is not an upstairs room you can reach without arranging transportation. Compare the room rate, taxes, and travel costs together. Confirm any shuttle directly with the hotel, including its last departure, rather than assuming a partnership includes a ride.
If a pool, spa, or resort-style weekend matters to your group, choose accommodations that supply those amenities independently. Canterbury is the gambling and racing destination, not the lodging package.
Chips Bar and Restaurant
Chips provides daily food and beverage service, with wait service and mobile ordering available. The casino also has self-service soda machines.
I see the main advantage as convenience: you can eat without turning a card-playing visit into another drive. That is a practical reason to dine on-site, not a claim that the restaurant warrants a special trip.
For a meal-budget reference, the posted fall 2025 Chips menu lists its two-patty smashburger at $14. Treat that as a dated example, not a guaranteed current price, and allow separately for tax, drinks, and a tip.
Chips bar is listed as open until 2 a.m. daily. That does not establish kitchen hours, so ask about food service if dinner depends on the end of a long session. Racing-area dining and concessions depend on the event schedule; nearby restaurant partners are separate businesses, not additional on-property venues.
Entertainment and nongambling visits
Seasonal racing, dog-racing promotions, and special events broaden Canterbury’s appeal beyond cards. Its event spaces also host gatherings separate from ordinary casino operations.
For a nongambler, the calendar matters more than the casino’s opening hours. A race day or particular event gives the outing a purpose; a quiet day without either offers less to someone who does not want to play cards.
Some race-day promotions are family-oriented, but casino entry is restricted to adults 18 and older. Check the specific event’s rules rather than assuming a family ticket includes access to gaming areas.
Parking, admission, smoking, and visitor policies
Free on-site parking and free casino admission keep arrival costs straightforward. Live racing, reserved seating, and special events are separate decisions, so free casino entry does not mean a free race-day package.
Canterbury’s general policies include these practical details:
- Christmas closure: The casino closes from December 24 at 6 p.m. until December 25 at 6 p.m.
- Racebook admission: Free during non-live racing hours.
- Outside food and beverages: Generally prohibited. Contact the catering sales team about exceptions for special dietary needs.
- Overnight parking: Vehicles may remain overnight in the main lot, but long-term parking is prohibited and subject to towing.
- Weather: Racing generally proceeds in rain, but safety-related cancellations are announced on the property’s homepage and social media.
- Active military admission: Active military members receive free live-season admission with valid identification.
Smoking and e-cigarettes are prohibited indoors. A heated outdoor smoking area is adjacent to the casino. For visitors who dislike smoke on a gaming floor, that indoor policy is a meaningful advantage.
Bring valid identification, allow extra arrival time for busy events, and arrange a sober ride home. Call 952-445-6870 for casino questions or 952-445-7223 for general information through Canterbury’s contact team.
MVP Rewards and player offers
Canterbury promotes MVP Rewards. Ask about enrollment and eligible play before a lengthy session, particularly if you plan to divide your time between poker, table games, and racing.
Do not assume those activities earn benefits the same way or that a headline promotion applies to all of them. I would judge an offer by whether it reduces the cost of a visit already planned, not whether it provides an excuse to keep wagering.
Who Canterbury Park suits best
- Strengths: Dedicated live poker, varied card games, smoke-free indoor gaming, seasonal racing, and free parking and casino admission.
- Drawbacks: No machine gaming, no attached hotel, seasonal live racing, and a racebook that closes well before the casino.
- Planning priority: Match active games, tournament formats, kitchen hours, and event admission to your visit. A 24-hour casino does not mean every service runs around the clock.
My take
I would recommend Canterbury Park to poker players and racing fans who want a focused, smoke-free outing rather than a resort getaway. Free parking and casino admission make a short visit straightforward, while daily dining and seasonal events can support a longer stay at the property. The trade-off is that mixed groups need to agree on the activity: machine players should choose another casino, and overnight visitors must arrange lodging and transportation separately.
Frequently asked questions
Does Canterbury Park have slots or video poker?
No. Canterbury is a card casino and racetrack, not a slot-machine casino.
Does Canterbury Park have a poker room?
Yes. It offers player-versus-player poker, including limit games, plus a separate no-limit survival format. Confirm the game, stakes, and schedule before visiting.
Does Canterbury Park have a sportsbook?
No. Horse-racing betting is available through its racebook, which is distinct from a retail sportsbook.
How old do you have to be to enter the casino?
You must be at least 18.
Is Canterbury Park open all night?
The casino normally operates around the clock, except from December 24 at 6 p.m. through December 25 at 6 p.m. The racebook and food outlets have separate hours.
Are parking and admission free?
On-site parking and casino admission are free. Racing and special-event tickets are separate.
Does Canterbury Park have a hotel?
No attached hotel is available. Nearby lodging requires a separate reservation and transportation plan.
Can you smoke inside Canterbury Park?
No. Indoor smoking and e-cigarette use are prohibited. A heated outdoor smoking area is available beside the casino.
Poker room and sportsbook
There is no on-site sportsbook.