If you live in British Columbia and want to play casino games online legally, the list of options is short: one site. PlayNow.com, run by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), is the only online casino the province authorizes — and while Ontario and Alberta have opened their markets to dozens of private operators, BC has so far chosen not to.
That doesn't mean British Columbians don't play elsewhere. By the government's own estimate, roughly half of BC's online gambling happens on sites the province doesn't regulate. This guide explains how BC online casinos actually work in 2026, what changed with the province's new gaming law, what PlayNow offers, and what you give up when you play offshore.
Who runs online gambling in BC
Under Canada's Criminal Code, only a provincial government can conduct and manage gambling — including online casino games — within its borders. In British Columbia, that job belongs to BCLC, a Crown corporation. Its online platform, PlayNow, covers lottery, casino, live dealer games, sports betting, poker and bingo.
Oversight changed in 2026. BC's new Gaming Control Act took effect on April 13, 2026, replacing the old Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB) with the Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO). The new regulator oversees all of BCLC's gambling, online included, and can issue directives to BCLC without needing the minister's sign-off. If a guide you're reading still describes GPEB as BC's regulator, it's out of date.
Is BC opening its online casino market like Ontario and Alberta?
Not yet, and nothing official suggests it will soon.
Private operators and industry groups lobbied the province through 2025 for an Ontario-style competitive market. The government declined. BCLC's 2026/27–2028/29 service plan, published in February 2026, describes PlayNow as the only legal option for online gambling in BC and plans its finances around the province remaining a closed market.
The pressure hasn't gone away. In May 2026, Finance Minister Brenda Bailey told the legislature that BCLC holds about 51% of BC's online gambling market — meaning the other half goes to unregulated sites — and that PlayNow's platform would be replaced in the fall to compete better. For now, BC's answer to the grey market is a better government product rather than private licences.
BC vs. Ontario vs. Alberta at a glance
| British Columbia | Ontario | Alberta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal online casinos | PlayNow only | 84 sites from 49 operators (Sept 2026) | Private market plus PlayAlberta |
| Market model | Closed, government-run | Open since April 2022 | Open since July 13, 2026 |
| Regulator | IGCO (from April 2026) | AGCO, with iGaming Ontario | AGLC |
| Minimum age | 19 | 19 | 18 |
| Self-exclusion | Game Break (PlayNow + casinos) | BetGuard (all regulated sites) | Centralized program |
| Sports betting | PlayNow Sports | Private operators + OLG | Private operators + PlayAlberta |
For how the open markets work, see our guides to Ontario online casinos and Alberta's July 2026 launch.
What PlayNow offers BC players
Casino. Slots, table games and instant-win games, plus live dealer tables. In 2025/26 BCLC also launched a standalone PlayNow Slots app. Progressive jackpots are shared across Canadian lottery corporations, which is why some prizes run into the millions.
Sports betting. PlayNow Sports has offered single-event betting since August 27, 2021, when federal law changed to allow it.
Poker and bingo. PlayNow's poker network is shared with Quebec and Manitoba, and bingo with Manitoba, which keeps tables and rooms busier than BC's population alone would.
Lottery. Lotto Max, Lotto 6/49, BC/49 and other draws can all be bought online.
PlayNow isn't only a BC site. Manitoba players use it through Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, and Saskatchewan players have had their own version since November 2022. Each player can only play in their home province.
BCLC says it bought a new online casino platform through public procurement in 2025/26 and plans to roll it out in fall 2026. If PlayNow's casino looks different soon, that's why.
Rules for playing on PlayNow
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Age: 19+. Your age and residency are checked through Equifax when you register.
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Location: you must be physically in BC (or your home province, for Manitoba and Saskatchewan accounts). PlayNow checks your location at login and during play, so location services need to be on.
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Deposits: Visa, Mastercard and Amex credit cards, Interac e-Transfer, PayPal, online bill payment and Web Cash, with a $5 minimum. Our Canadian payment methods guide compares how these methods work across the country.
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Limits: you can set a weekly deposit limit of up to $100,000, and account balances are capped at $250,000.
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Withdrawals: unplayed deposits go back to the payment method you used rather than to your bank account — a common anti-money-laundering rule.
The offshore question
Thousands of international casino sites accept British Columbians, and many advertise heavily. The most common route in is through Ontario-licensed brands: their ads reach BC viewers, but the regulated Ontario sites only take players located in Ontario, so BC players end up on the same brands' international sites. BCLC describes those sites as illegal in BC.
Here's the precise legal picture:
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Operators, not players, are the target of the Criminal Code's gambling provisions. There's no record of BC players being charged for playing at offshore casinos.
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Enforcement has stepped up anyway. BC's Joint Illegal Gaming Investigation Team investigates unlawful gambling, and in February 2026 it launched a public "Not Worth the Gamble" campaign warning residents about illegal sites.
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Your protection is the real issue. Offshore sites aren't overseen by the IGCO, aren't part of BC's self-exclusion program, and give you no provincial regulator to complain to if a withdrawal is refused or an account is closed.
The scale is significant. A 2021 report commissioned by the province estimated up to $5.3 billion a year was wagered with offshore sites, and the province later put unregulated revenue at roughly $400 million in fiscal 2024 — close to PlayNow's own figure that year. Both are estimates, and the government itself treats the older figures as dated.
If you do weigh up a site that isn't PlayNow, our how to choose an online casino checklist covers licence checks, payout testing and bonus terms.
How big is PlayNow?
In fiscal 2025/26 (to March 31, 2026), BCLC reported $494 million in iGaming revenue, up from $454 million the year before, with online play now roughly a sixth of BCLC's total revenue. iGaming produced $293 million in net income.
Where does the money go? BCLC's net income — $1.37 billion across all its gambling in 2025/26 — goes to the province, which funds health care, education and community programs. First Nations receive a 7% share of BCLC's net income, and host communities receive a share of revenue from local casinos.
Responsible gambling tools in BC
BCLC's GameSense program powers PlayNow's player tools:
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Weekly deposit limits, plus loss limits for casino, poker and bingo.
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Time limits and hourly reminders.
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Account lockouts from 24 hours to 90 days.
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Game Break — BC's self-exclusion program, formerly called Voluntary Self-Exclusion — for 6 months to 3 years, covering both PlayNow and BC casinos.
Free, confidential, 24/7 help is available through the Gambling Support BC line at 1-888-795-6111.
Taxes on BC winnings
Like everywhere in Canada, winnings from recreational gambling are tax-free windfalls, whether you win on PlayNow or anywhere else. The exceptions — professional gamblers, income earned on your winnings, and US casino wins — are covered in our guide: are gambling winnings taxable in Canada?
For the national overview, including every province's legal options, see Online Casinos Canada 2026.
FAQ
Is online gambling legal in British Columbia? Yes. PlayNow.com, run by BCLC, is the province's only authorized online casino. Players aren't prosecuted for using offshore sites, but those sites aren't licensed in BC.
What is the gambling age in BC? 19, for PlayNow and BC's land-based casinos.
Can I use Ontario online casino sites from BC? No. Ontario-regulated sites only accept bets from players physically located in Ontario. Their international versions aren't licensed in BC.
Will BC open its market to private casinos? There's no announced plan. BCLC's current service plan assumes BC stays a closed market, and the government is focused on upgrading PlayNow instead.
How do I self-exclude in BC? Through BCLC's Game Break program, for 6 months to 3 years. It covers PlayNow and BC casinos, but not offshore sites.
Gambling should be entertainment, not a way to make money. Online gambling in British Columbia is for players 19+ who are physically located in the province. If gambling stops being fun, call Gambling Support BC free and confidentially, 24/7, at 1-888-795-6111. Please play responsibly.