Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe Completes Elements Casino Chilliwack Acquisition as Great Canadian Advances First Nations Sales Strategy
TL;DR — The Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe closed its acquisition of Elements Casino Chilliwack from Great Canadian Entertainment on July 28. First announced in November 2025, the deal is part of Great Canadian’s sales of B.C. casino properties to First Nations. The casino has operated since 2012 with over 300 slots and table games.
SCCG Take — This transaction highlights the structural shift toward First Nations ownership of gaming assets, creating convergence between traditional territories and commercial operations across Canada.
The Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe has finalized its acquisition of Elements Casino Chilliwack from Great Canadian Entertainment. The transaction, first announced in November 2025, closed on July 28 through an entity affiliated with Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe Management Ltd., as reported by Yogonet International. This forms part of Great Canadian Entertainment‘s strategy to sell British Columbia casino properties to First Nations.
The Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe comprises seven First Nation communities and identifies as the First People of the Chilliwack River watershed. Its traditional territory spans approximately 95,000 hectares in the Central Fraser Valley of British Columbia and extends across part of the Canada-US border.
Elements Casino Chilliwack has served guests throughout the Fraser Valley since Great Canadian opened the property in 2012. The facility offers more than 300 slot machines, live and electronic table games, bingo, dining and live entertainment.
Tribal Portfolio Expansion
“Our communities have built a diverse business portfolio over the years in commercial real estate development, sustainable forestry operations, environmental stewardship and conservation of cultural values, and energy infrastructure,” said Chief David Jimmie, President of Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe Management Ltd.
“This acquisition is the next step in that growth. Elements Casino Chilliwack is a strong, established business, and we’re proud to bring gaming and hospitality into our portfolio. This transaction shows what our communities are capable of when we compete and lead in the business world,” Jimmie said.
New Chapter for BC Gaming Operations
“We are thrilled to welcome the Ts’elxwéyeqw Group to BC’s gaming industry,” said Matt Anfinson, Chief Executive Officer of Great Canadian Entertainment. “We have had the privilege of being part of the Chilliwack community since we opened Elements Casino Chilliwack in 2012, and we believe that under the Ts’elxwéyeqw Group’s leadership, the business will begin an exciting new chapter.”
“For the team members and guests of Elements Casino Chilliwack, and the local community, we can think of no better steward for the business,” Anfinson added.
In March, Great Canadian Entertainment announced an agreement to sell its eighth British Columbia casino property to a First Nation.
Ownership Transition Signals
This closing marks a clear step in the transfer of established gaming operations to indigenous leadership in British Columbia. The deal ties commercial hospitality directly to the tribe’s existing expertise in development, stewardship and infrastructure. Client-partners should track execution as these ownership models evolve.
Reporting: Yogonet International
First Nations are moving from partners to principals in Canadian gaming — ownership, not just participation, is the new model.
We're tracking this structural shift closely because it redefines casino ownership models across Canada. First Nations aren't just stakeholders anymore — they're buyers, operators, and portfolio builders. That changes deal flow, capital strategies, and partnership frameworks for anyone doing business in regulated Canadian markets.
- Ts'elxwéyeqw Tribe closed acquisition of Elements Casino Chilliwack from Great Canadian Entertainment on July 28
- Property operates 300+ slots and table games; deal part of Great Canadian's broader B.C. First Nations sales strategy
- Tribe's portfolio now spans real estate, forestry, energy infrastructure, and gaming — diversified commercial leadership
SCCG angle: SCCG has deep relationships across tribal gaming leadership and Canadian operators. If you're a First Nation exploring gaming acquisitions or an operator navigating this ownership transition, we broker the introductions and structure the conversations that turn interest into closed deals in these shifting markets.