BC Casinos

BC Casino players have a wide variety of online casinos to choose from. Have a look at this page, we have listed only the best legal sites that accept players from British Columbia.

BC Online Casino Guide For 2023

If you've been looking for a BC online casino to play at, you've come to the right place. Here you will find everything you need to know about online casinos in British Columbia as well as international sites that you can wager on for real money legally. Before we jump into things, let's take a look at the online gambling laws for this province and how they affect you.

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British Columbia Gambling Facts

The BCLC oversees all gambling in BC and their official legal BC online casino is called PlayNow.

PlayNow is only available to residents in British Columbia and Manitoba

It is not illegal to play real money games at international sites

PlayNow is not the only option for those looking for online casinos in BC

Legal Gambling in British Columbia

In 1892 Canada introduced a complete ban on all gambling except for horse racing. This is all tied in with the Canadian Criminal Code and over the years the ban has slowly been lifted. In 1969 the Criminal Code was amended allowing the federal government and provinces to operate lottery schemes. These were called games of change. Lotteries became really popular. In 2002, the Gaming Control Act was enforced and with it the selling of lottery products or the participation in casino or bingo games by minors became an offence punishable by fine. BCLC introduced its PlayNow casino website where players could purchase lottery products. In 2010 BCLC became the first Canadian province to offer legal, regulated online casino games at PlayNow which they later extended to the Manitoba Lottery Commission (MLC) in 2012. Responsible gaming is particularly important in British Columbia and their programs have received recognition from the World Lottery Association (WLA). For more information on legal gambling in Canada please see our Canadian legal gambling laws page.

PlayNow - The Official Government BC Online Casino

play now bc casino

PlayNow is the official government run online casino and is for residents in BC and Manitoba only. Players who register can get access to lottery tickets, keno, bingo games, live poker, sports betting and online casino games. Real money casino games include video slots, table games, blackjack, progressive jackpots, arcade games, and scratch cards. The site features over 100 games and uses software by Spielo G2 (GTECH). In December 2014, slots games from WMS were introduced to help improve on the game selection and the quality of the site. This gives players access to games such as Wizard of Oz and Zeus. This government run site is safe, legal, and regulated according to the federal and provincial laws. The site has received a lot of media attention over the years and it has appeared on TV in Canada as well as radio. The site is continuing to grow and expand to the needs of the residents of the province.

PlayNow vs International Casino Online for BC

PlayNow is the only legal site that players in BC can choose from. There are lots of licensed international sites that accept players from this province and the rest of Canada. These sites not only accept Canadian players, they specialize in catering to their needs by providing French and English speaking customer support, toll free numbers, and more. The software they use is the best of the best from the likes of Microgaming, NetEnt, Playtech and Betsoft. The software also caters for all operating system so players from Canada can enjoy the games on PC, Mac, mobile and tablet devices, so those with iPads and iPhones can also enjoy gaming on the go. Wagers can also be made in Canadian dollars. There are lots of advantages to choosing international online casinos including:

    • Larger Games Suites: International casinos have hundreds of games for players to choose from. They also have mobile casino apps and the software is available in both download and no download instant play options. These flash based instant play casinos allow players from Canada to play games directly in their browser. PlayNow uses software from SPIELO G2 and has slots from WMS but this is nothing compared to the number of slots that international sites have. The best slots games at present come from Microgaming and NetEnt but with the government run site these are not available.
    • Excellent Welcome Bonuses and Promotions: Bonuses are a big thing and are often what encourages new players to sign up for an online casino account. PlayNow only offers a 100% bonus up to $100 whereas the larger international casino have much larger bonuses. They also offer special game specific bonuses such as slots bonuses, blackjack offers and of course the much sought after no deposit bonus. There are some free spins available on PlayNow but not as many as you will find with international sites.
    • Massive Progressive Jackpots: when it comes to progressive jackpots, those at PlayNow won't be as high as the international online casinos. This is because all the games offered on the BCLC site can only be played by residents of British Columbia and Manitoba so the pool of players is much smaller. This in turn means that the progressive jackpots are much smaller. At the official online casino for BC you will see progressive slots reach around $250k whereas progressive slots at international site can be over $5 million CAD.

Best Online Casinos For BC Players

Players from Canada who are looking for real money online casinos in their province have a lot of choice. On our site we only list the best BC online casino sites and our in depth casino reviews will help you find the site that suits your needs. Whether you are looking for the best bonuses and promotions, top slots games, video poker tournaments, or mobile casinos, we have all the information you need. Our reviews look at the casino reputation, software, bonuses, banking options and more. Take a look at our reviews today and find the online casino in BC that is right for you. Below is our list of top real cash BC online casinos.

Best Rated Casinos for BC Players

British Columbia Legal Gambling Frequently Asked Questions

    • Can I enjoy legal real money gambling in BC?
      Yes of course you can and there is plenty of choice. You can choose from the government run PlayNow online casino or one of the many licensed and regulated international sites. There is no law that states that online gambling is illegal in Canada.
    • Do I have to choose PlayNow if I reside in British Columbia?
      PlayNow is the only official, legal BC online casino licensed by the province but there is no specific Canadian or BC law that explicitly states that placing real money bets at an international online casino is illegal. You can choose from any licensed and regulated site that accepts players from Canada.
    • Do I have to live in BC to place real money wagers at PlayNow?
      Yes you musts be a resident in BC or Manitoba if you want to play for real money at the provincially run online casino. With international casinos you just have to live in Canada.
    • Are there any benefits to playing at an international site?
      There are lots of advantages. These include a great game selection, mobile casinos, no deposit bonuses, free spins, free play options, VIP programs, larger jackpots and massive progressive jackpots. The choice is entirely yours and it should be noted that gambling in Canada is tax free so you don't have to pay taxes on your winnings either.
    • What about deposits and withdrawals?
      International sites make it as easy as possible for players from Canada to deposit and withdraw their funds. You can use your credit or debit card and deposit and withdraw in Canadian dollars. They also have Canadian specific banking options such as eChecks and Instadebit.
    • Does PlayNow have a free play option?
      Unfortunately there isn't a free play option available at PlayNow. Most of the top international sites do however offer free play options for those who would like to test out the games before registering for an account and depositing money. We also offer exclusive no deposit bonus deals for our readers so be sure to check out our no deposit page for more information.
 

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