Online Casinos in British Columbia – The Ultimate Guide

The gambling landscape in British Columbia is a little complex for casino players. Between the provincially regulated PlayNow platform and the countless internationally regulated online casinos that are available for players in B.C., it’s not always easy to know where to put your time (and money).

That’s where we come in. As both online gambling experts and real casino players right here in British Columbia, we’ve tested what’s out there and put together a detailed guide to the best British Columbia online casinos for locals. We’ll walk you through PlayNow and our top-rated international sites and give you the inside scoop on the hottest bonuses, the best payment options, and everything else you need to know before you play.

While PlayNow BC is a solid casino experience online, players in the province often turn to offshore sites. This is because internationally licensed casinos have more game choices, bigger/more frequent bonuses, and flexible payment options. Below are our current best British Columbia online casinos:

Because we playtest all British Columbia online casinos we review, each recommendation comes from a true user’s experience. That is why thousands of people have trusted us to help them connect with their ideal online casino.

Our review team is made up of industry experts who know exactly what it takes to make a top casino site. But at the same time, we are players at heart and love casino games, so our reviews are always from a real, hands-on approach.

Our process involves testing security/licensing, bonuses, game selection, customer support, and payments at every casino we check. If a brand does not match our strict standards, you won’t see it in our list. That means only the best British Columbia online casinos make our recommendations.

Online casinos are legal in British Columbia under the regulation of the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), which governs through the Gaming Control Act. More accurately, a single online casino is available, the government-operated PlayNow British Columbia. This platform allows residents to access casino games, lotteries, and sports betting.

While PlayNow BC is the only regulated iGaming site in the province, residents are able to access offshore casinos that have international licences from regulators such as Kahnawake Gaming Commission, Curacao eGaming, and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). This is known as a legal grey area, whereby the offshore online casino cannot host its operations within B.C., but players in the province can use them.

Gambling laws in Canada are simple but come with a twist. According to the Criminal Code of Canada, the federal government permits casinos/sports betting across the whole country. However, you may have noticed that gambling remains heavily regulated. This is because the federal government allows provinces and territories to decide whether to have legal gambling frameworks or not.

In other words, it is up to each province to choose whether to have casinos and sports betting locations. Most provinces do allow land-based gambling, but online casinos remain heavily restricted. In fact, only Ontario allows international and private iGaming brands to have licences within the province.

All other provinces heavily restrict online gambling, with only British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and  Manitoba offering government-run online casinos.

British Columbia has a government-led approach to gambling within the province. All gambling falls under the Gaming Control Act, with regulation from the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB). All commercial gambling, both land-based and online, is managed by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), which oversees casinos (including 18 land-based venues), lotteries, bingo, and sports betting.

The BCLC also handles British Columbia online casinos, which currently means just the PlayNow.com platform. As the legal gambling site, PlayNow BC has a monopoly on all casino games, lotteries, bingo, and sports betting within the province. All profits from PlayNow are reinvested in provincial programs and services.

At the same time, PlayNow is not the only online option for British Columbians. Residents and visitors in the province can also access offshore casinos. While these sites are not regulated in B.C., they do have licenses from their respective jurisdictions.

British Columbia often seems on the cusp of reforming its online gambling laws, but regulatory shifts remain elusive. PlayNow.com remains the only legal online gambling site, but there is potential for major changes and the possible introduction of more online casinos in British Columbia.

Major iGaming brands are actively lobbying within the province to look into a more competitive market. The Canadian Online Gaming Alliance (COGA) is made up of major betting companies such as BetMGM, bet365, and Super Group, and they argue that B.C. officials should explore a model similar to Ontario’s. The multi-operator framework in Ontario has allowed dozens of online casinos and sports betting sites to become available legally within the province.

There is currently no public endorsement of the lobbying from the B.C. government, but there are members who are eager for reform. But at the moment, any changes are at the current level through the BCLC. It has a five-year “revolutionize gambling entertainment” plan that aims to introduce more personalized iGaming and continue to focus on social and responsible gambling matters.

British Columbia’s history with gambling stretches back over 60 years.

1969: Changes made to the Criminal Code of Canada by the federal government give provinces the power to create their own legal gambling frameworks. It was only for lotteries at first.

1974: B.C. partners with Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan to form the Western Canada Lottery Foundation (WCLF), bringing lotteries to each province.

1985: Another amendment to the criminal code gives provinces control over all forms of gambling.

1985: British Columbia uses the change to leave the WCLF to form its own British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), which oversees all forms of gambling.

1987: Comox Valley Casino becomes the first land-based casino in B.C., later replaced by  Chances Courtenay in 2002.

1987: Billy Barker Casino Hotel opens and is the longest continuously operational casino venue in British Columbia.

1997: The BCLC expands to allow commercial land-based casinos and bingo locations.

2000-2015: Many of the 18+ land-based casinos in B.C. opened for business in cities and towns such as Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, and Surrey.

2004: PlayNow.com makes its debut, providing online casino, bingo, and sports betting access within the province.

2021: Single-event sports betting is made legal in Canada, allowing the BCLC to expand PlayNow.com.

2025: Despite discussions and lobbying, British Columbia continues to operate under a monopoly for online gambling through its PlayNow platform.

British Columbia online casino sites are open to all residents and visitors in the province, provided they meet legal requirements set by the Gaming Control Act. Regulations from the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) mean players must be of a certain age, while also navigating tax laws and local restrictions.

Legal Gambling Age

The legal gambling age in British Columbia is 19, for all activities,  including casinos, lotteries, and sports betting – both online and land-based. All players must meet this age, whether they play online or at land-based locations.

PlayNow.com checks and verifies the identity of each player to ensure users comply with the provincial laws. The minimum gambling age also counts when someone in B.C. visits an offshore licensed casino site, even if the brand is located in a jurisdiction with a minimum age of 18 (such as Malta or the UK).

Taxes on Winnings

There are no provincial or federal taxes on  gambling winnings made at British Columbia casinos online. This is because Canadian law considers these games of chance. One important distinction is for professional gamblers who will need to pay taxes on their income/winnings. These same rules apply when playing on an internationally licensed platform.

Land-Based Casinos

British Columbia has around 20 land-based casinos, making it one of the premier locations in Canada for casino sites. All of the casinos fall under the regulations of the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC). These destinations provide slots, table games, poker, and entertainment/dining options.

Local Restrictions

BC residents are able to play on online casinos that are located offshore, provided they have a full license from a known regulator. Within the province, only PlayNow British Columbia is officially licensed.

With its PlayNow casino, British Columbia has a government-operated online gambling platform that has been active since 2004. It is operated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and is the only regulated online casino and sports betting site in the province. Players can access a hundreds of games, including slots, roulette, blackjack, poker, baccarat, and live dealer casino games.

While not offering the level or frequency of bonuses as an offshore online casino, PlayNow has a welcome offer of $50 of Freeplay and a prize draw up to $1,000. You’ll also see promotions such as seasonal offers, rebates, and tournaments.

One of the big benefits of PlayNow is its robust security. This is the only online casino in B.C. where you can get full regulatory support within the province. Because it is government/regulator-operated, the platform also has strict SSL encryption, player privacy, fairness, and secure payments. Speaking of deposits and withdrawals, you can handle your funds using Visa, Mastercard, Interac, PayPal, and Webcash.

PlayNow BC works on mobile devices but only offers a full app for its sports betting section. Customer support is robust, including live chat, phone contact, and email.

Finding the best British Columbia online casinos is much more than just picking brands at random. Our teams of experts know that a top online casino must have several important things in place, such as accessible and generous bonuses, a wide variety of casino games, robust security, swift and secure payments, and more. During each review, we put every casino to the test with a multi-step hands-on approach.

Instead of focusing on one area, we playtest casinos across a range of criteria we know are essential to players. That way, you know when you choose a top casino, it has been tested by our team across the following factors:

Overall Security

Our starting point is always security and fairness. We take a no-compromise approach to casinos, demanding that the brands we recommend are licensed by a known regulator. Examples including the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and Curacao eGaming. These authorities ensure a base level of compliance with security and fair play regulations.

Next, we dig deeper into specifics and look at a casino’s security measures, like firewalls and end-to-end encryption. Because players need a fair experience, we look into which testing labs casinos use for independent certification on fair game outcomes.

Registration Process

There are two parts of signing up for a casino that are important. Firstly, you should get a smooth registration experience, and secondly, the casino should still have Know Your Customer (KYC) checks to prevent fraudulent account activity. Combining these into a coherent sign-up process is a balancing act that the top casinos achieve.

In our reviews, our industry experts will detail all the steps for registration and provide feedback on account verification. Our aim is to recommend casinos that meet our expectations for fast registration and player safety.

User Experience and Mobile Play

Players have different tastes in how they access an online casino. Some prefer to play from the comfort of their couches while watching TV, while others like to try casino games on the movie via their mobile devices. Either way, you should expect a smooth experience whichever way you choose to use the casino.

For every British Columbia casino we review, we test the platform on desktop and mobile to ensure seamless access. Our main points of interest are general navigation and UI, alongside performance such as game-loading and transitions. When switching to mobile, we try the website version and the casino app when available, allowing us to report on how casinos perform on iOS and Android devices.

Bonuses and Promotions

Bonuses are one of the hottest topics in the iGaming world. Many players don’t really know what goes into a good promotion because all they see are eye-catching offers. It is essential to always read the T&Cs of any bonus you want to claim. We recommend this for all players at all casinos and for all bonuses.

However, our reviews do make life a little easier by detailing the main terms you need to know about each bonus. We know what makes a generous and accessible bonus, so we pinpoint the best British Columbia casino bonuses currently available.

Game Variety

Games are at the heart of any online casino, so it is important that brands mix lots of options with flexibility. We look for casinos with game collections covering slots, jackpot games, table games, live dealer tables, game shows, instant wins, and more.

To ensure the best options for players, we find casinos that work with top software providers like Evolution, Games Global, NetEnt, and Pragmatic Play. At the same time, we also value casinos that have titles from smaller developers and niche studios. In other words, the casinos we list will cater to you no matter what your game style, preferences, or budget.

Deposits and Withdrawals

You’ll be sending and receiving money from your online casino, so a smooth, secure, and flexible deposit and withdrawal experience is important. Our team first checks for available payment methods, such as Interac, e-wallets, debit/credit cards, or cryptocurrencies. The more options, the merrier!

And from there, we will then look at deposit/withdrawal limits, bonus restrictions on certain payment methods, and how long it takes the casino to cash out winnings.

Customer Support

Customer support is a key factor because it allows you to feel confident if something goes wrong. Let’s be clear, top casinos should be smooth experiences, but no platform is perfect, so mistakes happen, and resolutions are necessary. Our casino tests involve reaching out to customer support, and we believe a leading casino should have live chat, email, and FAQ sections.

Live chat is especially important because it gives access to customer support in real-time. Features of live chat we look for include opening hours (24/7 is best), connection times to speak to an agent, and the friendliness and helpfulness of the support.

All British Columbia casinos online require you to open an account and deposit funds before you can play real money casino  games. You’ll be able to get started in just a few minutes by following the steps below:

1. Compare the casino sites in our list and click the link of the one you prefer to navigate straight to the casino homepage.
2. Register by following the steps at the casino, which usually include providing your name, address, phone number, date of birth, and email.
3. To fund your account, click the “Deposit” button and choose one of the payment methods. Provide the details for that method and enter the deposit amount to clear the transaction.
4. Once your deposit is ready, you should receive the casino welcome bonus. If not, you may need to enter a promo code or opt in for the offer manually.
5. The casino game lobby displays all slots, live dealers, and other games. Browse the collection and click on the thumbnail of the game you want to play.
6. Always gamble responsibly by setting yourself an affordable budget and not chasing losses.

You will need to be 19+ to register with an online casino when playing from British Columbia. This includes casino sites that may have an age limit of 18+ under their licensed jurisdiction. Also, some casino sites may have an age limit of 21+ if they are licensed in a market with that age limit. In this case, you will also need to be 21+ even if you are playing from B.C.

One of the reasons why B.C. online casinos are popular is that they have casino games that cater to all tastes, styles, and budgets. Whether you’re a player looking for fast-paced action from slots, the sophistication of baccarat, the thrill of the spin in roulette, or the strategic gameplay of blackjack and poker, the top British Columbia casinos we list have you covered:

Online slots are the most common games on casino sites, with thousands of options available from hundreds of providers. Available in a massive range of themes and mechanics, you can play slots with classic reels, video slot features, jackpot games, and modifiers such as avalanche reels and Megaways.

Welcome to the biggest games at an online casino. Progressive jackpot slots take a portion of each bet and keep growing until someone wins. Then they reset and start again. Major network games such as Mega Moolah and Jackpot King reach millions of dollars before they pay out.

Table games are virtual representations of classic casino games, where you’ll play against a computer that uses Random Number Generator (RNG) software to randomize the outcome of every round.

Blackjack

A card game of sophistication, blackjack puts you in direct competition with the casino/dealer. One of the most popular games on British Columbia online casinos, blackjack involves trying to get as close to 21 as possible without going over, while also beating the dealer’s value.

Roulette

RNG roulette gives you a graphically superb virtual wheel and betting grid, where you can make inside and outside wagers and see the wheel spin. Top casinos have familiar roulette variants based on European, American, and French styles.

Baccarat

Baccarat is a card game where you do not actively need to play, but instead bet on the Player, Banker, or a Tie in a race to be closest to a value of 9 without going over.

Poker

Because poker is one of the most popular card games, you can often find a lot of options on casino sites. For example, video poker games like Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better, or RNG games such as Texas Hold’em and Caribbean Stud.

Online iGaming is a ton of fun, but some players miss the atmosphere and authenticity of a land-based casino. British Columbia casinos online offer the best of both worlds with live dealer tables. These are live versions of roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker, and other games that stream live from a remote location. With full HD video feeds and professional human dealers running the show, live casino games offer a taste of casino realism.

British Columbia casino bonuses come in a lot of different styles, and there is no one-size-fits-all offer. What promotion works for you may not be ideal for another player. Even so, casinos try to create bonuses that appeal to a broad spectrum of users. The idea behind any casino promotions is to attract new players and keep existing players engaged.

Even so, there is definitely a line between a good casino bonus and one to avoid, and it all comes down to terms and conditions. By reading the small print, you will see if the bonus really is good value or locks you into restrictions that make it hard to claim. Our reviews always delve into bonus terms to help you understand which bonuses are best.

Below are the most common promos on British Columbia online casinos.

Welcome bonus: A welcome bonus is a handy greeting from the online casino that rewards you for opening an account. You will usually get a deposit bonus consisting of a deposit match bonus and free spins.

Deposit match: Most casino bonuses require you to deposit your own money first, such as $10 or more. A deposit match is the most common of these and matches your deposit by a percentage amount, such as 100% up to $1,000.

Free spins: Most casinos have a free spins bonus, usually as part of a welcome package alongside a deposit match. This reward involves the casino giving you a set number of spins for a slot or slots chosen by the casino.

Cashback: Losses are never nice, but a cashback bonus can soften the blow. This promotion is when a casino offers a percentage back on net losses over a period of time. For example, 20% back on losses up to $100 over 24 hours.

Reload promotion: A reload is just a fancy name for a deposit bonus that you claim after the welcome bonus. It is a reward for ongoing players and delivers a bonus if they make deposits.

Are you a payment traditionalist who wants to only use debit/credit cards or banking, or do you embrace modern solutions like e-wallets? Perhaps you’re a trailblazer with your love of cryptocurrencies. Whichever way you choose to handle your online payments, top online casinos will support methods for deposits and withdrawals.

Even the provincial PlayNow BC offers debit/credit cards and e-wallets. However, the best British Columbia casinos we list offer all types of popular payment options. On top of that, we select casinos that make the whole payment experience smooth. For example, are there any fees for transactions, what limits are there on deposits/withdrawals, any bonus eligibility restrictions, and overall withdrawal times?

All of the online casinos in British Columbia that we recommend offer the best all-around experience possible. Even so, you’ll want to compare and contrast our sites to ensure you find the best casino to match your needs. There are simple steps you can take to get the best casino for your needs, and we asked our experts to put together the following top tips.

Choose a licensed casino: Only ever pick a casino with a license from a known regulator. We make this easy by only recommending licensed brands.

Check out the games: A leading casino will have a flexible game selection with thousands of options and access to all types of game categories (slots, live dealer, table games, and more)

Try the site on mobile: Once you register, switch between desktop and mobile to see how the casino performs on different devices.

Payment methods: Check our payment options before you deposit. Some casinos will have more methods available than others.

Customer support: Research whether the casino has live chat and other support methods. Ideally, the customer team should be available 24/7.

Responsible gambling: All reputable online casinos have a responsible gambling page with tools to promote safe gambling and seek advice and help.

PlayNow.com and offshore casinos have players covered in the online space, but what about if you like getting a real casino experience? Well, British Columbia casinos extend beyond your device thanks to around 20 land-based destinations within the province. There are casinos operated by British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), private resorts, and First Nations-operated venues.

Casinos in B.C. range from smaller locations to massive hotel resorts that double as entertainment complexes. Among the best-known destinations are River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, Cascades Casino in Langley, and Hard Rock Casino Vancouver in Coquitlam. Each casino offers gambling with hospitality, ensuring guests enjoy more than just the casino floor.

River Rock Casino Resort - 8811 River Rd, Richmond

Available near Vancouver International Airport, River Rock Casino is a full resort and the largest in the province. It opened in 2004 and hosts over 1,000 slots, dozens of table games, and a dedicated poker room. The accompanying luxury hotel has facilities including a marina, theatre, and a full entertainment center.

Hard Rock Casino Vancouver - 2080 United Blvd, Coquitlam

Originally opened in 2001 as Boulevard Casino, this site was rebranded as Hard Rock in 2013. It combines slots, table games, and poker with live concerts, comedy shows, and classic Hard Rock dining, making it a nightlife hub.

Cascades Casino Langley - 20393 Fraser Hwy, Langley

Cascades Casino opened in 2005 and has been a popular casino since its launch. It has over 1,000 slot machines, table games, and a dedicated poker room. The hotel, convention Center, and dining outlets create a complete entertainment complex.

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) says responsible gambling is one of its most important principles and a key reason why it does not want to give licenses to offshore casinos. The BCLC has control over responsible gambling in the province through its GameSense program, which provides players with tools like deposit limits, time and spending reminders, and voluntary self-exclusion to help them maintain control.

Advisors from GameSense are also available through PlayNow.com and land-based casinos to offer support and guidance. It is also worth noting that the top British Columbia online casinos we recommend offer similar responsible gambling tools and access to third-party helplines and resources.