About Online Gambling in British Columbia

If you want to play online casino games in British Columbia (BC), you can do so using PlayNow, the province's licensed portal, or you can join an offshore casino site.

On this page you can find the best online casino in BC, Canada for you, as well as learn about online casino laws and regulations in British Columbia, types of online casino games, bonuses and promotions, and more.

British Columbia Online Casino Laws and Regulations

British Columbia's approach to regulating online gambling is similar to what you see in many other Canadian provinces. The BC Lottery Corporation is in charge of overseeing commercial gambling activities in British Columbia. That includes online gambling. The Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch licenses and oversees the BC Lottery Corporation.

The most important law to be aware of when gambling online in British Columbia is the Gaming Control Act. This act regulates all gambling activities in the province.

British Columbia has only one legally licensed and regulated online portal for playing casino games, and that is PlayNow. British Columbia shares this portal with two other provinces – Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In these provinces, it is also the only licensed online casino platform.

While British Columbia urges players to use PlayNow for online gambling, some offshore casino sites and apps do accept players from BC. While some of these offshore casinos are reputable and trustworthy, it is important to keep in mind that they are not legally licensed in BC.

Casino Games in British Columbia

Most of the online casino games you can play at the BC gambling sites are slots, table games, or live casino games. Those that want to partake in British Columbia online gambling have plenty of options:

  • Online slots - An online slot machine is an easy to play, 100% luck-based game. Pressing "spin" triggers the virtual reels of the slot game to spin, eventually settling into place. If a winning combination of symbols appears on the payline, you receive a payout.
  • Table games - In the table games section of an online casino, you can find games such as online blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat. BC gambling sites also offer specialty games, which may be a separate category, or a subcategory under the table games. Examples of specialty games include keno, scratch games, crash games, etc.
  • Live casino games - Players who miss being able to play with a live, human dealer online can load up a live casino game like blackjack, baccarat or roulette. Live casino games connect the player to a real, live dealer through a video feed. Players can submit their bets to the dealer, who will run the games just as they would in a brick-and-mortar casino.

Casino Bonuses in British Columbia

When you are trying to decide what online casinos in British Columbia are worth joining, you should consider not only the game selections, but also the bonus offers. Below, we go over some of the different types of bonuses and rewards you may encounter.

Welcome Bonuses

When a player signs up at an online casino, the casino may welcome them with a special offer that is only available to new players. The British Columbia online gambling sites are no different.

Welcome offers are usually match deposit bonuses. The player makes their first deposit, and the casino matches it up to the percentage and amount that they specify for that promo. The player then needs to meet the wagering requirements in the bonus terms and conditions before they can withdraw any winnings.

New players may also sometimes claim no deposit bonuses, generally for a modest amount of bonus funds.

Bonuses for Returning Customers

Match deposit bonuses may also be available for your future deposits after you become an established online casino British Columbia customer.

Online casinos may also offer free spins bonuses for new games or other games they want to draw players' attention to. High roller bonuses may be offered to customers who are willing to put down large stakes. You also may be able to earn cash-back bonuses as you play.

VIP Programs

To reward loyal customers, online casinos may create VIP programs. These loyalty programs start players at the bottom tier and offer them the chance to progress to higher tiers through regular play.

Every tier of a VIP program offers additional perks. Sometimes the redemption rate for points for cash-back improves as you climb the tiers too.

Responsible Gambling

Online casino British Columbia games are available for you to play anytime, anywhere. But one downside of that convenience is that it can be very hard not to play constantly.

To help players to protect their time and money, BC gambling sites have introduced responsible gambling tools.

The most well-known responsible gambling tool is voluntary self-exclusion. Using this tool, a player can take a break from a gambling site or app. You can choose the timeframe; it could be weeks or months.

Gambling limits are also becoming commonplace in the online casino world. With these tools, you do not shut yourself out of the site or app completely. You just set limits that automatically prevent you from continuing to play once you hit the thresholds you selected for money or time spent.

British Columbia Casino Apps

Imagine being able to play online slots, table games, and more anywhere you have an internet connection. You can do that with British Columbia casino apps.

Note: Not every casino offers apps, but most do, usually for both iOS and Android.

If you do not see any apps available, does that mean you cannot play on your mobile device? Not necessarily. Usually, when a casino does not feature apps, that is because the site is already designed to run on mobile devices. So, you can play on the go, but no download is necessary.

To complete our guide to online casinos in British Columbia, let's answer some frequently asked questions.

FAQ

Are online casinos legal in British Columbia?

Yes, it is legal to play at online casinos in British Columbia. But you should know that PlayNow is the only site that is licensed and regulated in British Columbia. There are offshore sites that are not licensed in British Columbia that may still accept players from this province, however.

Are there real money online casinos in British Columbia?

Yes, there are casinos that you can join in British Columbia that let you play for a chance to win real money online. Bear in mind that to have a shot to win real money, you must also risk real money.

What are the best British Columbia online casinos?

The best British Columbia online casinos are those that are reputable, safe, feature flexible and affordable deposits and withdrawals, and include a large selection of exciting games. Their bonus terms and conditions are reasonable, and you can rely on customer support if you have a question or concern. Take a look at our list of top British Columbia online casinos to see our recommended sites and apps.

How do you create an account at a British Columbia online casino?

You can open an account at an online casino in British Columbia in a few simple steps:

  1. Navigate to the casino site you want to join.
  2. Click the button on that site that says "Sign Up", "Join", or something similar.
  3. Fill out your information in the short forms that follow.
  4. Submit your information.
  5. Check your email and click on the link you receive to verify your new account.

You may then proceed to making your first deposit.

How do you claim a bonus at an online casino in British Columbia?

You can claim the welcome bonus by opting into it when you submit your first deposit.