Before you go

Kawartha Downs before you set off

A few things are worth sorting at home before you head out to the slots at Kawartha Downs. The track sits out on County Road 28, and nobody wants to drive back to town for a forgotten wallet.

By the Out to the Downs crewChecked October 11, 2026

Nineteen and over only

Ontario law keeps anyone under 19 out of casinos and slot facilities, so the Shorelines floor at Kawartha Downs is closed to younger visitors. Staff at work are the one exception. The Player's Lounge sits on the slot floor, and it is 19 plus as well, with ID. So a teenager in the car cannot wait in the lounge while you play. Online casino play in Ontario follows the same age line.

Which ID goes in your pocket

Great Canadian asks for ID from anyone who looks younger than 30, and staff make that call, not you. The card has to be government-issued photo ID in its original form. A picture of your licence on a phone is not the original, so leave that idea at home. Staff may also ask for a second piece. Tucking a second card in your wallet is handy if you tend to look young for your age.

Player card and payout counter

Great Canadian Rewards is the operator's player card, and its Comp Dollars are accepted at the Kawartha Downs slots. Members are 19 or older. If you already have one, it can go in the wallet next to your photo ID. This guide does not list earning rates or what Comp Dollars cover. When you are done at a machine, the slot floor has a payout counter.

Smoke, vape and cannabis rules

Great Canadian's code of conduct limits smoking and vaping to designated areas, and cannabis is banned everywhere on the property, indoors and outdoors. Knowing who makes which rules out there is useful. The slots are operated by Great Canadian Entertainment under the Shorelines name. Kawartha Downs, a separate company, owns the harness track, the Player's Lounge and the grounds, which is why general track questions go to 705-939-6316.

A support person, a service animal

If you live with a disability, you can bring a support person with you to Kawartha Downs. At the races, service animals are the only animals let in, and they have to stay indoors because of the horses. Kawartha Downs calls the Player's Lounge & Café on the slot floor fully accessible, and the Grandstand Dining Room, upstairs on the second floor, is wheelchair accessible. The track also puts out a written accessibility policy and a plan that runs over several years. General questions go to 705-939-6316.

Settle the sum before the car starts

This is general advice, not a fact about the venue. Every slot is built with a house edge. Across many players and many evenings, the machines take in more than they pay out. A spending limit and a time to head home, both picked before you leave the driveway, hold up better than ones picked at the machine. If gambling stops feeling like a choice, ConnexOntario is free, confidential and open 24 hours at 1-866-531-2600.

Questions

Quick answers

Short answers from the checked facts. Tap a question to open it.

What kind of ID should you bring?

Bring government-issued photo ID in its original form. Staff may ask for a second piece, so a spare card in the wallet helps.

Will staff still ask for ID at 35?

The rule covers anyone who looks younger than 30. How old you look is the staff's call, so carrying photo ID anyway saves any trouble at the floor.

Can you smoke outside?

Great Canadian's code of conduct restricts smoking and vaping to designated areas. Cannabis is banned everywhere on the property.

Is there a hotel at the track?

There is no hotel at Kawartha Downs, and the grounds are closed to camping. Campers are directed by the track's FAQ to Omemee's Emily Provincial Park, Kawartha Trails Resort and Beavermead Park in Peterborough, and Selwyn's Bailey's Bay.