When it comes to gambling, British Columbia is quite liberal. Gamblers have plenty of options. Most importantly, the market is very well regulated, which is crucial for eliminating or at least minimizing the risk of severe potential problems like addiction, fraud, and organized crime. Let’s start with some details about the legal framework of gambling in the area.
History of Gambling Laws in British Columbia
Nowadays, the British Columbia gambling laws may be lenient, but this has not always been the case. In fact, back in 1892, all gambling activities were banned by the Canadian Criminal Code. Somewhat expectedly, however, this did not last long, and gradually, the country started to legalize gambling in all its forms.
Today, gambling in British Columbia is regulated by the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, which operates by the Gaming Control Act and Gaming Control Regulations, as well as Canada’s Criminal Code. Furthermore, the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch regulates the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), which was established in 1985 to conduct and manage lotteries, bingo halls, and casinos in the province.
Legal Gambling Age in British Columbia
The legal gambling age in British Columbia is 19. This is also valid for most other Canadian provinces except for Quebec, Manitoba, and Alberta, where you must be 18 to participate in any gambling activity. The penalties for underage gambling are more severe for the operator rather than the player. An operator could be fined thousands of Canadian dollars. In the worst case, its license could be revoked altogether.
Legal and Illegal Gambling Activities in BC
As we already established, British Columbia has a straightforward approach as far as gambling is concerned. Instead of applying highly restrictive laws, the province has created a system of regulations and processes to make sure everything is running legally. Therefore, as you will see in the table below, there is pretty much no gambling activity that has been made illegal under the British Columbia gambling laws.
| 🎰 Gambling Activity | ⚖️ Legal Status |
|---|---|
| Land-Based Casinos | Legal |
| Online Casinos | Legal |
| Lottery | Legal |
| Horse Racing | Legal |
| Sports Betting | Legal |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | Legal |
| Bingo | Legal |
| Poker Rooms | Legal |
| Charitable Gambling | Legal |
There are over 30 land-based casinos in British Columbia. These are fully licensed venues adhering to the industry’s latest safety and security standards. You can also play at online casino sites, bet on sports, and enjoy bingo, poker, and horse racing. Lottery in British Columbia has been legal since 1969.
You can play many popular games on the official British Columbia Lottery website. Among them are Lotto 6/49, BC/49 Lotto, Poker Lotto, and BC 50/50. In addition, The British Columbia Lottery offers online casino games and sports betting. For the biggest lotto enthusiasts we recommend our suggestions for the top online Canadian lotteries.
British Columbia Online Gambling Laws
Is online gambling legal in British Columbia? That is our next focus, and the short answer is yes. Interestingly, there is only one BC-based online casino. This is the PlayNow.com platform regulated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC). If you prefer to enjoy your favorite games on the go, you can also choose between the many offshore gambling sites operating for players from British Columbia.
Before proceeding to wager at any offshore casino sites, however, you should make sure they are licensed and regulated by official gambling authorities like the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). The best online casinos in British Columbia provide a completely safe gambling experience.
Top Land-Based Casinos in British Columbia
Besides the excellent choice of some of the top online casinos in Canada, British Columbian players can also try the land-based gambling venues. There are quite a few options to choose from. As of writing this article, there are more than 30 operators in the province. For starters, you can check the top recommendations listed below:
- Cascades Casino in Langley, BC
- River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, BC
- Hard Rock Casino in Vancouver, BC
- Grand Villa Casino in Burnaby, BC
- Lake City Casino in Vernon, BC
- Elements Casino in Surrey, BC
- Prestige Treasure Cove Resort in Prince George, BC
- Billy Barker Casino Hotel in Quesnel, BC
These casinos are operated by either the British Columbia Lottery Corporation or one of the two private companies operating in the province – Great Canadian Gaming and Gateway Casino & Entertainment. River Rock Casino Resort, for example, is among the best First Nations casinos in Canada.
You can play more than 1200 slots, including popular titles like Wheel of Fortune, Carnival of Cash, and Race to Win. There are table games like roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker, and craps. You can also test your luck at the exciting Poker Room or check out the high-quality racebook.
British Columbia Gambling Laws: Conclusion
The BC gambling laws allow players to enjoy pretty much everything the industry has to offer. This includes, but is not limited to, casino games like slots, roulette, blackjack, and baccarat, as well as sports betting, poker, lottery, and bingo. The gambling market in this Canadian province is very well regulated by the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB), which we consider its most significant advantage.
After all, safety should be the number one priority for players and online and offline casino operators. This is a great time to remind you to choose only fully licensed operators and to always play responsibly and within limit. If you need any guidance, we recommend you check our article about the Canadian online gambling laws.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is the end of our article about the BC gambling laws. Hopefully, we managed to shed light on the topic. If you have any remaining questions, please have a look at the short FAQ section below. We will keep a close eye on future changes and update this article accordingly.