Is online gambling legal in British Columbia?

Recreational winnings are not taxable. If PlayNow.com support cannot fix a problem, you can escalate to BCLC, and then to the IGCO.

Play only on sites licensed in British Columbia; those have to follow its player-protection rules.

Online sports betting is legal on sites licensed in British Columbia. Online casino is legal on sites licensed in British Columbia. Online poker is legal on sites licensed in British Columbia. The lottery is legal on sites licensed in British Columbia.

The minimum age on record for gambling in British Columbia is 19+.

0%: recreational winnings not taxable.

Always verify a casino holds a valid Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO) licence before depositing.

Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO)'s website

Prominent operators in British Columbia

If a site isn't on the regulator's licensee register, ask the regulator before you play: an unlisted site is usually not licensed here (a register can lag behind a new licence). An unlicensed site is outside the regulator's supervision, so you cannot complain to the regulator about it.

1. 1

   1. Contact Operator Customer Support

   The first step for any issue with game play, account funds, or payouts is to contact PlayNow.com's customer support directly via phone, email, or live chat.

2. 2

   2. Escalate to BCLC

   If customer support cannot resolve the issue, the player can escalate the complaint within the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), the operator of PlayNow.com.

3. 3

   3. File a Complaint with the Regulator

   If the dispute remains unresolved after exhausting options with BCLC, a player can report the issue to the Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO), which is responsible for ensuring the integrity of gambling in the province.

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  Confirm you are on the official PlayNow.com website

  The only legal online gambling site is PlayNow.com. Any other site with a similar name or design is an illegal operator. Check the URL carefully before entering any personal information.

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  Look for the BCLC Logo

  The official site is operated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. The BCLC logo should be prominently displayed. Any site that does not clearly state it is operated by BCLC is not legal in the province.

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  Verify the GameSense branding

  BCLC's responsible gambling program, GameSense, is built into PlayNow.com. The presence of GameSense tools and information is an indicator of the site's legitimacy.

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  Understand that no private brands are licensed

  Seeing advertisements for well-known international betting brands does not mean they are legal in BC. Unless they are operating through an agreement with BCLC on the PlayNow.com platform, they are not authorized.

• Myth

  It's legal to play on any gambling site that accepts players from BC.
  Reality

  False. PlayNow.com, operated by the government's BCLC, is the only legal online gambling website in British Columbia. All other websites are operating illegally in the province.

• Myth

  My gambling winnings will be taxed.
  Reality

  False. For recreational players in Canada, lottery and gambling winnings are considered non-taxable windfalls and are not subject to income tax.

• Myth

  The new regulator (IGCO) means more websites will become legal.
  Reality

  False. The IGCO was created to provide stronger oversight of the existing BCLC monopoly and combat money laundering, not to open the market to private competition.

What you can expect from a licensed site's offers in British Columbia. The rules operators must follow are on the operator page.