The Crystal Casino was the first permanent government-owned casino

Casino

In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...

 in the Western Hemisphere

Western Hemisphere

The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...

. It opened in 1990 on the seventh floor of Fort Garry Hotel

Fort Garry Hotel

The Fort Garry Hotel is a historic hotel in Downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and one of Canada's grand railway hotels. Built in 1913 by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, it is located one block from the railway's Union Station, and was the tallest structure in the city when it was completed.Like...

 in Winnipeg

Winnipeg

Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...

, Manitoba

Manitoba

Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...

, and was run by the Manitoba Lottery Foundation

Manitoba Lotteries Corporation

The Manitoba Lotteries Corporation is a Crown Corporation that operates and manages two casino properties: McPhillips Station Casino and Club Regent Casino in Winnipeg, Manitoba...

. Two new gaming centers, the McPhillips Street Station

McPhillips Street Station Casino

McPhillips Street Station Casino is a casino located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is one of two casinos in the city McPhillips Street Station Casino is a casino located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is one of two casinos in the city McPhillips Street Station Casino is a casino located in Winnipeg,...

 and the Regent Station

Club Regent Casino

Club Regent Casino is a casino located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is one of two casinos in the city , both are owned and operated by the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation, and in turn, the Government of Manitoba . The casino opened in 1993, after an assessment regarding the distribution of gambling...

, were opened in 1993 to replace Crystal's bingo halls. It was closed on May 22, 1997, with the two other Winnipeg casinos absorbing its operations.