This vintage Gemaco Northern Belle Casino Windsor Ontario Playing Cards is a complete deck of playing cards featuring a design inspired by the Northern Belle casino in Windsor, Ontario. These collectible cards are ideal for both playing games and displaying as a nostalgic piece of casino history. With the brand Gemaco known for producing high-quality cards, this deck is sure to add a touch of vintage charm to any card game collection.
For those that don't know the history of this casino.............
The Northern Belle was a paddlewheel riverboat casino that played a pivotal role in the early days of legal commercial gaming in Ontario, Canada. Operating on the Detroit River directly across from the Detroit skyline, it served as an interim floating casino during the boom period of the mid-to-late 1990s. Inception & Background In May 1994, Ontario opened its very first casino in Windsor. Known as Casino Windsor, it was housed temporarily inside a converted art gallery building on Riverside Drive. The venue became an instant phenomenon, drawing overwhelming crowds—primarily American cross-border tourists from Michigan and the broader US Midwest—with lines routinely wrapping around the block. To meet the staggering demand and relieve overcrowding while the permanent, land-based resort was under construction, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) decided to bring in a floating paddlewheel casino to serve as an auxiliary site. History & Launch Arrival & Opening: The province selected and acquired a paddleboat from New Orleans. Docked at the foot of Ouellette Avenue on the Detroit River waterfront, the Northern Belle Casino officially opened its doors in December 1995. The Riverboat Era: The Northern Belle offered a classic, nostalgic paddlewheel environment spread across multi-level decks filled with slot machines and table games. It was marketed as Canada’s first riverboat casino. Closure (July 1998): The riverboat served its purpose for roughly two and a half years. On July 29, 1998, the permanent, multi-million dollar Casino Windsor complex opened nearby, rendering the interim floating casino obsolete. The Northern Belle ceased operations in July 1998 as all gaming merged into the main land-based resort. Current Status The Vessel: Following its retirement in 1998, the paddleboat was removed from the Windsor waterfront. The Docking Site: Today, the former mooring location on the Windsor riverfront promenade at Dieppe Gardens / Ouellette Plaza has been integrated into the city’s public parkland. Remnants of the boat's original docking infrastructure and platform were repurposed into public park amenities and storage facilities. The Casino Property: The permanent complex that replaced it went on to undergo a massive expansion and rebranding in 2008, becoming Caesars Windsor. Interesting Facts Custom Token Currency: Because the riverboat operated under a joint marketing setup with the interim land-based casino, special commemorative gaming tokens and coins were minted inscribed with "Northern Belle Casino – Canada's First Riverboat Casino". Catalyst for Detroit Gaming: The overwhelming success of the temporary Windsor operations (including the Northern Belle) sent shockwaves through the region. American gaming dollars pouring across the Detroit River into Canada was a primary factor that drove Michigan lawmakers and voters to legalize Detroit’s own land-based commercial casinos shortly after. Southern Style in the North: Despite being styled as a traditional Mississippi-style paddleboat, the Northern Belle never actually went on extended cruises while operating in Windsor—it remained docked along the Detroit River waterfront to act as a stationary floating floor.