Online Casinos in British Columbia

Overview of Casinos in British Columbia

Yes, online gambling in British Columbia is entirely legal. So much so that the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) runs the first state-owned online casino within the country. While the games are limited, the site does provide an all-Canadian gambling experience with profits going back to the federal treasury.

The gambling age for betting in British Columbia is 19; this applies to online and land-based casinos.

However, just because British Columbia has its state-owned gambling website, it doesn't mean that all British Columbians need to gamble there. Residents of the province can register and play at countless regulated international online casinos.

Most of these offshore online casinos are licensed by the strictest regulators, such as the Malta Gambling Authority, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission or other overseas gaming regulators. These regulatory bodies ensure that all gamblers are protected on online platforms.

Casinos Regulator in BC

The main regulatory body that oversees all gambling practices is the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, or GPEB for short. The provincial government regulates gambling means that all gamblers are protected from malpractices.

This legislative body is responsible for granting gambling licences and vetting gambling organisations. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) operates the provincial lottery and is the only state-owned online casino and sports betting website. All revenue generated through state-run gambling organisations supports and funds education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

Legal Age to Gamble in British Columbia

As mentioned above, to gamble legally at any land-based establishment or online casino, players will need to be over 19 years of age. This goes for all forms of gambling, including slot machines, lottery tickets, sports betting, horse racing and video poker terminals. Bingo and raffles can be played by individuals below 19, provided a charitable or non-profit organisation hosts it.

Betting Sites in British Columbia

Online and offline sports betting are completely legal within the province of British Columbia. Everyone 19 years or older can participate in betting on sports, both local matches and international matches.

Many BC residents enjoy betting on their favourite sports, such as ice hockey, baseball, soccer, basketball, football, golf and much more. Many online sports betting websites that accept punters from British Columbia will have tailor-made bonuses available such as bonus funds in CAD or risk-free bets. Here are the best betting sites you can find here:

Ranking	Casino	Payout Speed	Win Rate
1	Barz Casino	2 days	98.56%
2	Unibet Casino	1-5 days	97.33%
3	Mr Vegas Casino	2 days	96.18%
4	Betfair Casino	2-3 days	97.03%

Casino Payments in British Columbia

There aren't any particular laws about payment options that you can or can't use in British Columbia, which is fantastic for players who want the freedom of choice when depositing and playing! Each payment method has its benefits and drawbacks, most notably the withdrawal timeframe.

We recommend that you check for hidden fees listed in the casino's terms and conditions as well as your preferred payment provider service terms. Most casinos accept significant currencies, including CAD and local payment providers such as Interac, Instadebit and iDebit are offered. 

If you would like to opt for a bonus, check the terms and conditions to determine if any payment methods are excluded from the offer. This would be listed in the bonus terms and conditions. Here are the most common payment methods used to gamble in British Columbia:

Recommended Online Casinos in British Columbia

We've already assembled a list of the best places so you can pick your favourite Canadian online casino, as well as the ones that BC players love the most. We've spotlighted a couple below as the top 3 BC casinos, though, so you can make your mind up by trying a few of these gaming sites out first.

Land-based Casinos in British Columbia

British Columbia is one of Canada's provinces that enjoys a bustling gambling industry. Gambling revenues in 2015 reached a soaring $2.9 billion.

The growth didn't stop there but managed to increase to a whopping $3.2 billion in 2018. Since British Columbia has a state-owned monopoly on gambling, all profits will be funnelled back into the economy in the form of improvements to infrastructure, education, health care and community organisations when played at the province-owned gambling site.

There are 37 land-based casinos, and pari-mutuel facilities throughout the province spread out over 27 different cities for those who want local casinos. This means that a night of leisure and recreational gambling is never far from any major cities.

Vancouver has the most gambling facilities in the area, amounting to 6 casino establishments. Within the province of British Columbia, you will have over 13000 slot cabinets and other gaming terminals. The province also enjoys an active poker community with frequent tournaments.

Cascades Casino

• Address: 201-553 Vees Dr, Penticton, BC V2A 8S3, Canada

• Telephone number: 1-250-487-1280

• Slot machines: 400

• Table games: 11

• Casino square meters: 45.000

Starlight Casino

• Address: 350 Gifford St, New Westminster, BC V3M 7A3, Canada

• Telephone number: 1 604-777-2946

• Slot machines: 850

• Table games: 45

• Casino square meters: 100.000

Casino Of The Rockies

• Address: 350 Gifford St, New Westminster, BC V3M 7A3, Canada

• Telephone number: 1 604-777-2946

• Slot machines: 234

• Table games: 45

• Casino square meters: 100.000

Billy Barker Casino Hotel

• Address: 308 McLean St, Quesnel, BC V2J 2N9

• Telephone number: 250-992-5533

• Slot machines: 140

• Table games: 5

• Casino square meters: 9.000

Cascades Casino Langley

• Address: 20393 Fraser Highway, Langley, British Columbia

• Telephone number: 604-530-2211

• Slot machines: 1001

• Table games: 23

• Casino square meters: 80.000

Parq Casino Vancouver

• Address: 39 Smithe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia

• Telephone number: 604-676-0888

• Slot machines: 600

• Table games: 75

• Casino square meters: 72.000

Grand Villa Casino

• Address: 4331 Dominion St, Burnaby, BC V5G 1C7

• Telephone number: 604-436-2211

• Slot machines: 1200

• Table games: 64

• Casino square meters: 10.000

Hard Rock Casino Vancouver

• Address: 2080 United Blvd, Coquitlam, BC V3K 6W3

• Telephone number: 604-523-6888

• Slot machines: 951

• Table games: 35

• Casino square meters: 80.000

Great Canadian Casino Nanaimo

• Address: 620 Terminal Ave, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5E2

• Telephone number: 250-753-3033

• Slot machines: 400

• Table games: 8

• Casino square meters: 17.000

Elements Casino Victoria

• Address: 1708 Island Hwy, Victoria, BC V9B 1H8

• Telephone number: 250-391-0311

• Slot machines: 770

• Table games: 26

• Casino square meters: 35.000

Cascades Casino Kamloops

• Address: 1555 Versatile Dr, Kamloops, BC V1S 1W7

• Telephone number: 250-372-3336

• Slot machines: 500

• Table games: 21

• Casino square meters: 50.000

Playtime Casino Kelowna

• Address: 1300 Water St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9P3

• Telephone number: 250-372-3336

• Slot machines: 450

• Table games: 16

• Casino square meters: 23.000

Lake City Casino Vernon

• Address: 4900 Anderson Way, Vernon, BC V1T 9V2

• Telephone number: 250-545-3505

• Slot machines: 450

• Table games: 9

• Casino square meters: 14.000

River Rock Casino Resort

• Address: 8811 River Rd, Richmond, BC V6X 3P8

• Telephone number: 604-247-8900

• Number of slots: 1100

• Table games: 114

• Casino square meters: 70.000

Prestige Treasure Cove Hotel

• Address: 2005 BC-97, Prince George, BC V2L 4N1

• Telephone number: 250-614-9111

• Slot machines: 500

• Table games: 4

• Casino square meters: 37.000

Elements Casino

• Address: 17755 60 Ave, Surrey, BC V3S 1V3

• Telephone number: 604-575-5603

• Slot machines: 551

• Table games: 24

• Casino square meters: 60.000

Hastings Park Racecourse

• Address: 188 N Renfrew St, Vancouver, BC V5K 3N8

• Telephone number: 604-254-1631

• Slot machines: 500

• Table games: N/A

• Casino square meters: 42.000

Responsible Gaming in British Columbia

Should you not feel in control of your gambling habits, there is help readily available. British Columbia encourages every gambler to gamble responsibly and only for recreational purposes. Should you ever feel the need to reach out for help, you may contact these helplines for advice on responsible gambling:

• GameSense website: click here;

• BC Responsible Gaming website: click here.

Final Word on Gambling in BC

British Columbia is one of the Canadian provinces to offer a state-owned online casino platform, setting an example for other provinces to follow. By regulating online gambling, players can be protected from unsavoury online casinos.

Every online casino you will find here is licensed and regulated by one or more of the aforementioned jurisdictions. This ensures that British Columbia residents get the same secure gambling experience as the rest of Canada.

BC Casinos FAQs

Got some more questions about gambling online in British Columbia? Not to worry, we've assembled some of the most pressing ones below.

References

• Gambling in BC (Government of BC)
• Bitcoin Casinos in Canada (Business Blockchain HQ)
• BCLC Urges Laws on Sports Betting (Gambling News)
• British Columbia Gambling Rules and Regulations (BCLC)