British Columbia

Online gambling in British Columbia is quite liberal with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation holding a monopoly to provide online gaming. Offshore casinos, sports betting sites and bingo accept residents with a minimum legal age of 19 (some at the age of 21).

The maximum number of casinos in British Columbia permitted by law is 22.

  • 15 casinos
  • 2 racetrack casinos
  • 6 bingo facilities
  • 19 Community Gaming Centers

PlayNow.com was launched in July 2010 and is available for British Columbia residents only.

The online platform offers:

  • Lottery
  • Sports betting
  • Slots
  • Bingo
  • Table games – Blackjack, Sic Bo, Craps and Roulette

In 2012, the BCLC entered into a partnership with Loto-Quebec to offer online poker.

British Columbia Online Casinos

RANKCASINOWELCOME BONUS
1casoola-logo$1500 + 200 Free SpinsPLAY NOW
2montecryptos-logo (1)$5000 + 80 Free SpinsPLAY NOW
3casiplay-logo$800 + 100 Free SpinsPLAY NOW
4spinit-logo$1,000 + 200 Free SpinsPLAY NOW
5casino-joy-logo$1,000 + 200 Free SpinsPLAY NOW

Online Gambling

  • Offshore online casinos accept players from British Columbia.
  • The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), an agent of the government), is the only state regulated online onshore operator and operates through the PlayNow.com platform.
  • The BCLC holds monopoly over offline and online lottery products, sports betting and gaming products.

Legalislation

  • Online operators are neither explicitly prohibited or permitted.
  • Provincial law prohibits unlicensed onshore operators from operating within the market.
  • Local governments determine the type and scope of gaming within their territories.
  • Horse race betting is commercially operated at racetracks and permitted for licensed operators.
  • Community Gaming Centers are permitted to offer slots and bingo products, but not table games.
  • Charitable or religious organisations may apply for and receive licenses to operate charitable gaming.

Minimum Legal Gambling Age

The gambling age is 19

Taxation

  • The surplus generated from all BCLC activity, including PlayNow.com is circulated to support communities, Provincial programs and charities.
  • Casino revenue is taxed through sharing agreements with local governments that host casinos. 10% of the net income generated from these casinos is paid to the host local governments.

Regulatory Bodies

  • The Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch
  • Ministry of Finance
  • BCLC is responsible for the oversight and management of casino activity in British Columbia.

Key Legislation

  • Gaming Control Act
  • Gaming Control Regulations
  • The Canadian Criminal Code, Part VII.