Is online gambling legal in BC?

Key takeaways

• No private market. Unlike Ontario and Alberta, whose regulated market launched on July 13, 2026 (AiGC), B.C. has not opened a market for private online casinos or sportsbooks.
• The regulator has a new name. Since April 13, 2026, gambling in B.C. has been regulated by the Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO), which replaced the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB) when the Gaming Control Act (passed in 2022) came into force.
• The legal age is 19. That applies to casinos, lottery tickets, online gambling and charitable events. To take a break, you can self-exclude through BCLC’s Game Break program for six months, one, two or three years, and free help is available 24/7 at 1-888-795-6111.

The short answer

Under Canada’s Criminal Code, most forms of gambling are legal only when a province conducts and manages them or licenses them. (The Code also allows a few narrow exceptions, such as licensed charitable lotteries, fairs, private bets between individuals and supervised horse-race betting.) Section 207 lets a provincial government “conduct and manage a lottery scheme” in its province “in accordance with any law enacted by the legislature of that province”.

B.C. uses that power through BCLC. The provincial government says: “In B.C., gambling is legal only when it’s run by the provincial government. The BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) manages all commercial gambling, including casinos and online gambling, for the B.C. government” (Gov. of B.C., Gambling in B.C.).

The same page is direct about online play: “PlayNow.com is the only legal online gambling site in B.C.”

Who does what in B.C.

Body	Role
British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC)	Runs gambling. It “conducts and manages all commercial gambling in the province on behalf of the B.C. government”, including lotteries, casinos and online gambling (IGCO, About commercial gambling).
PlayNow.com	The only legal online site. It is run by BCLC, and PlayNow says BCLC is authorized to sell games “within the province of British Columbia only” (PlayNow FAQs).
Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO)	The regulator. It calls itself “the provincial regulator for all gambling, horse racing, and responsible gambling programs in British Columbia”, and it oversees BCLC (IGCO). It works under the Gaming Control Act and its regulations (IGCO, Who we are).
Gambling Support BC (GSBC)	Free help. A provincial program, administered by the IGCO, that runs a 24/7 helpline and free counselling (IGCO).

Are private or offshore gambling sites legal in B.C.?

No. As of September 30, 2026, B.C. does not license any private online casino or sportsbook.

On August 28, 2026, the IGCO said: “BCLC’s PlayNow.com is the only regulated commercial online gambling website permitted to operate in BC.” It added: “All other online gambling websites that allow BC players to access their sites, including those that offer event contracts based on sports or entertainment outcomes, operate illegally in our province” (IGCO, Prediction Markets update).

That includes prediction markets: the IGCO says sports and entertainment event contracts “are considered gambling” in B.C. Our prediction markets explainer sets out the securities regulators’ side.

Can a player be charged? In law, yes: section 207(3)(b) of the Criminal Code makes taking part in a lottery scheme that no province authorizes a summary conviction offence (Criminal Code). The IGCO’s statements are aimed at the sites, not their players. Sites licensed by the Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission in Quebec are in the same position here: a Kahnawà:ke permit is not a B.C. authorization.

In practice, that means a site that is not PlayNow.com is not regulated in B.C., and B.C.’s regulator cannot help you if a withdrawal or dispute goes wrong there. For what your options are elsewhere, see our guide on offshore gambling sites and Canadian law.

Legal gambling age in BC

19. The B.C. government says: “You must be 19 years or older to gamble in B.C. This includes casinos, lottery tickets, online gambling, and charitable events. People under 19 are not allowed to enter gambling venues or take part in any gambling” (Gov. of B.C.).

PlayNow.com checks this. Its FAQ says new accounts are verified electronically through one of Canada’s major credit bureaus, which confirms age and residency without checking your credit history (PlayNow FAQs).

You also have to be inside B.C. PlayNow says you “must be physically located within British Columbia” with location services turned on to access your account (PlayNow FAQs). If you travel out of province, you cannot play.

Is sports betting legal in BC?

Yes, through BCLC. The IGCO says gambling in B.C. is permitted “through lottery and sports betting products, and through iGaming offered by BCLC” (IGCO, About commercial gambling), and that BCLC is the only entity allowed to conduct and manage “online gambling and sports betting” for the province (IGCO, Prediction Markets update). Online, that means PlayNow.com. Betting on a single game has been legal in Canada since August 27, 2021, when Bill C-218 came into force (LEGISinfo), but in B.C. only BCLC may offer it.

Player limits on PlayNow.com

PlayNow lists these controls in its FAQ (PlayNow FAQs):

• Weekly deposit limit (mandatory). Every player must set one before making a deposit. The highest allowed is $100,000.
• Casino loss limit (optional). Caps how much you can lose over a day, week or month. Once you hit it, casino games are locked until the limit resets.
• Time limits (optional). A daily or weekly maximum playing time.
• Session reminders and logs. A reminder of how long you have been playing, plus your time and spending, and six months of account history.

Self-exclusion: Game Break

Game Break is BCLC’s voluntary, confidential self-exclusion program. B.C.’s government says casinos, bingo halls and PlayNow.com are all required to offer a free, voluntary self-exclusion program (Gov. of B.C., Gambling Support BC).

What PlayNow says about it (PlayNow FAQs):

• How long: six months, one year, two years or three years. It starts right away and the period cannot be changed once you sign up.
• What it covers: your PlayNow.com account (website and BCLC apps) and entry to gambling facilities in B.C., for the whole period.
• How to enrol: log in to PlayNow and complete the online form; go in person to any casino, community gaming centre or commercial bingo hall with government photo ID; or enrol by video call. To book, call 1-866-815-0222 (daily, 7 a.m. to midnight Pacific).
• Your money: a cash balance over $5 is sent back to your bank account on file, and unused promotional funds are lost.
• Only you can sign up. No one can enrol a spouse or family member for them.
• When it ends: your break cannot be shortened; PlayNow says the Game Break period “must expire before you are able to return to play”. When it ends, you stay excluded for another 12 months unless you complete BCLC’s Game Plan course and submit a Return to Play form (you can do both in the 30 days before your break expires, or after). BCLC then emails you within seven days to confirm when you can play again.

GameSense is BCLC’s responsible-gambling information program, and GameSense Advisors can help you enrol in Game Break. The B.C. government says a GameSense Advisor is available in every casino in the province (Gov. of B.C., Gambling Support BC).

Are gambling winnings taxable in BC?

For most people, no. This is a federal rule, so it is the same in B.C. as elsewhere in Canada. The Canada Revenue Agency says you do not report “lottery winnings of any amount, unless the prize can be considered income from employment, a business or property, or a prize for achievement”. What your winnings earn afterwards is taxable: the CRA’s example is interest from investing lottery winnings (CRA).

The details, including when gambling counts as a business, are in our guide: Are gambling winnings taxable in Canada?

Where to get help in BC

• Gambling Support BC: 1-888-795-6111, free and open 24/7. Callers are connected to a navigator who can help right away, find local services or connect you to a free counsellor (gamblingsupportbc.ca). Support is free for B.C. residents, whether the problem is your own gambling or a loved one’s.
• GameSense Advisor / Game Break: 1-866-815-0222 (PlayNow FAQs).
• PlayNow customer support: 1-877-706-6789 (PlayNow FAQs).
• Questions for the regulator, or to report wrongdoing: contact the IGCO through igcobc.ca (Gov. of B.C.).

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

What happened to GPEB?

Older guides name the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB) as B.C.’s regulator. That is out of date. On April 13, 2026 the IGCO “officially launched, replacing the former Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB)” (IGCO launch release), the day the modernized Gaming Control Act (SBC 2022, c. 29) came into force (Gov. of B.C.). New regulations on advertising, problem gambling and voluntary self-exclusion came in with it (IGCO, Laws and regulations).

What has changed recently

• April 1, 2026. Gambling Support BC launched a new integrated service model with TELUS Health, bringing the 24/7 support line and counselling into one system (IGCO, June 5, 2026).
• April 13, 2026. The Gaming Control Act (passed in 2022) came into force and the IGCO replaced GPEB as B.C.’s regulator (IGCO launch release, Gov. of B.C.).
• June 11, 2026. The IGCO released a BC Problem Gambling Action Plan. The 2025-26 prevalence study behind it found 19% of B.C. adults in the moderate-to-high-risk range for problem gambling (IGCO, June 11, 2026).
• August 28, 2026. The IGCO said PlayNow.com is the only permitted online gambling site and that sports and entertainment prediction markets count as gambling in B.C. (IGCO, Aug 28, 2026).

As of September 30, 2026, we found no IGCO announcement of a plan to license private online operators; its most recent statement (August 28, 2026) says PlayNow.com is the only permitted site (IGCO, Aug 28, 2026).

Practical next steps

1. Play only on PlayNow.com, and only in B.C. You must be 19+. PlayNow blocks play once you leave the province, so it won’t work on a trip to Alberta, Ontario or the US.
2. Set your limits first. PlayNow requires a weekly deposit limit, and you can add loss and time limits.
3. Need to stop? Enrol in Game Break online through your PlayNow account, at any B.C. gambling facility, or by calling 1-866-815-0222.
4. Talk to someone. Call Gambling Support BC at 1-888-795-6111, any time. It is free.

Frequently asked questions

Is online gambling legal in BC?

Yes, but only on PlayNow.com, which BCLC runs for the provincial government. On August 28, 2026 the IGCO said all other online gambling sites that let B.C. players in operate illegally.

Is sports betting legal in BC?

Yes, through BCLC. Online, that means PlayNow.com. The IGCO says BCLC is the only entity allowed to conduct and manage online gambling and sports betting in B.C.

What is the legal gambling age in BC?

You must be 19 or older. That applies to casinos, lottery tickets, online gambling and charitable events, and people under 19 cannot enter gambling venues.

Who regulates gambling in BC now that GPEB is gone?

The Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO). It replaced the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch on April 13, 2026, when the Gaming Control Act (passed in 2022) came into force.

Can I use PlayNow.com when I travel?

No. PlayNow requires you to be physically in British Columbia, with location services on, to use your account.

Can I be charged for using an offshore gambling site in BC?

In law, a player can be: section 207(3)(b) of the Criminal Code makes taking part in an unauthorized lottery scheme a summary conviction offence. The IGCO can’t help you with a withdrawal or dispute on such a site.

Are gambling winnings taxable in BC?

Usually not. The CRA says lottery winnings of any amount are not reported unless the prize can be considered income from employment, a business or property, or a prize for achievement. Interest or other income you earn on the winnings is taxable.

This page explains the law in general terms. It is not legal advice. Last reviewed September 30, 2026, against the official sources listed below.