Finally began to offer online casino games and sports betting odds. Interestingly, lawmakers in British Columbia have not created a licensing structure for foreign gambling websites to operate in the province. As of 2020, only one online gambling site is regulated by the BC government. In British Columbia, any Canadian over the age of 19 is able to gamble, whether at a physical or online casino. Best of all, winnings from gambling are tax-free.
British Columbia is the countries westernmost province and is the 5th largest Canadian province by area. It has a large amount of scenic nature and is well known for its coastlines and mountains. It is the perfect place for people who love walking trails, skiing, biking, and for someone who just enjoys beautiful scenery.
On the business side, B.C. has a diverse and strong economy that is well known for its film industry. Many well-known movies and TV shows have been filmed in the beautiful setting that surrounds B.C.
The province has a population of 4,992 million, with most of those people living in Vancouver. Gambling became legal in 1970 and has been growing in popularity ever since. Today, there are a ton of great casinos in British Columbia that all gamblers will love.
Here’s everything you need to know about gambling and the best casinos in British Columbia.
To legally gamble in British Columbia, as well as buy lottery tickets, bet online and on horse racing, you must be 19 years old or older. B.C.’s gambling laws are some of the strongest in the country and they will not allow anyone under the age of 19 to even enter any type of facility that has gambling.
British Columbia has their very own online gambling site that they own; it’s called PlayNow. It was created in 2004 and allows B.C. gamblers to play online poker, bet on sports, play other casino games, partake in the lottery and even play Bingo.
To safely participate in online gambling, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation recommends you use the PlayNow platform. But there are other online gambling websites to look into. Here are three we recommend:
Jackpot City is the countries favourite online casino. It has a 4.9 ranking and has over 640 games for you to play. Just by signing up, Jackpot City pays a C$1,600 bonus for new Canadian players. This website has a 97.8% payout that is paid in 1 to 2 days.
Spin Palace has a 4.9 rating and is one of the easiest to use online casinos. On both web and mobile, the online website pays out over C$5 million every day. The jackpots on this site are some of the largest continuous jackpots around and users receive C$1,000 bonus when they sign up.
Ruby Fortune’s rating is 4.8 and has a 96.5% payout, which comes within 1 to 3 days. You can play hundreds of great casino games and features an easy to play and great platform everybody will love. By signing up, new players get C$750 instantly.
As you can see, British Columbia has a very vibrant and active gambling community. There are tons of excellent casinos that are rune extremely we’ll in conjunction with the provincial government. From large casinos in the capital city of Vancouver, to smaller locations near the mountains, you can choose your favourite location to circulate.
If you’re an online gambler who is over 19 years old, you’ll be able to find many relevant sites that work for you.
Frequently Asked QuestionsGambling here has its roots all the way back in 2300 B.C, but it's relatively recent beginning dates back to 1497, when John Cabot discovered the Natives who enjoyed playing games of chance. Their games revolved around using pebbles and sticks, but the concepts of gambling were similar to those of modern day games. Older games were attributed to the development of cognitive, spiritual, and physical evolution.
It was Richard III who initially added the dice game ban in the legislation because far too many soldiers back then spent time playing backgammon. Therefore, Richard III thought that the integrity and security of his country was at stake. After the ban was removed and up to current times, gambling has provided Canadians with an exciting way to pass time and enjoy their money.
The Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB) should be at the center of any discussion about gambling in British Columbia casino online websites. This organization regulates the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, horse racing, casino gambling, and all other forms of gambling in the province. They are also responsible for limiting the effects of problem gambling as it relates to BC casino online gambling.
There is also a government sanctioned British Columbia casino online today! This operation has seen some successful, but other online gambling venues (off shore brands) are still the market leaders by far. The fact, though, that there is a local casino online is evidence that this particular province is open to the idea of online gambling. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission also licences and regulates online casinos from the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake. Besides just online gambling, BC is home to some fantastic land casinos.
A relatively small casino stretching 9,000 square feet, the Billy Barker Casino Hotel still packs a punch as far as gambling is concerned. The casino is open Sunday - Thursday, 10am - 11:30pm, and Friday - Saturday, 10am - 12:30am. Table games start at 4pm Friday - Sunday. Players are welcome to try blackjack, a variety of slot machines, and poker. The electronic roulette tables feature cutting-edge technology that allows you to use touch screen features to place bets, adding a great twist to a classic.
Known as one of the largest casinos in British Columbia, the River Rock Casino Resort spans over 70,000 square feet and contains plenty of gaming action for Canucks. Open 24 hours a day, the Resort is the first stop for players who love to gamble, whether it be poker, roulette, blackjack, craps, or slots. The casino boasts 1000 slot machines, 78 table games, 20 poker tables, and plenty more casino games. Equipped with five eateries, namely Tramonto, Curve, The Buffet, Lulu’s Lounge, and Food Court, you’ll have no trouble finding quality food & drink here.
Another terrific casino located in BC, the View Royal has plenty of games to lure players into its 72,000 square foot facility. Operating hours from 10am - 4am daily, the exhilaration of casino games hardly takes a break here. Take your pick from 435 slots machines and 24 table games. You can enjoy Caribbean Stud Poker, blackjack, Fortune Pai Gow, roulette, Sic Bo, and many more. Players are invited to visit View Royal Casino’s Restaurant & Bar to enjoy some fine dining & delicious cocktails after winning some real cash prizes.
Within five minutes from Vancouver International Airport in Richmond is the dazzling River Rock Casino along the Fraser River. Welcoming an average of 10,000 visitors per day, River Rock Casino is the largest casino in British Columbia. With the legal age set at 19, River Rock, which is open 24/7, is packed with young and old gamblers from Vancouver and its neighboring regions. Poker fans will love the seven varieties of the game including Texas Hold ‘Em Bonus Poker, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, and Pot Limit Omaha Poker in the dedicated Poker Room along with video poker terminals. If you love games of chance, you'll be amazed with the 1,100+ slot machines to choose from.
For a downtown boutique casino experience, head to the Edgewater Casino located in the vicinity of BC Place and GM Place. In the 36,500 square foot gaming space, you will find more than 600 slots and 70 table and poker games to have fun with. Become an Encore Rewards card member to get free play, cash gifts, free bonus ballots, and exclusive invitations to special events.
Gamblers will also find other casinos around Vancouver such as the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver and the Grand Villa Casino in Burnaby.
Home of the successful professional poker player, Matthew Jarvis, Surrey in British Columbia is a calm, small residential city located adjacent to the metropolitan city of Vancouver. Gamblers in Surrey can enjoy the excitement of big casinos such as Edgewater and River Rock in the vicinity. Apart from that, Surrey has its very own casino called Elements that comes with the excitement of casino gambling together with gaming promotions and world class food at four restaurants.
The 60,000 square feet gaming facility also offers 12 poker tables and 24 table games. Try to get the best hand at Four Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Pai Gow, Fast Action Hold’em, Limit Hold'em, No Limit Hold'em, and Pot Limit Omaha. Popular table games include blackjack, free bet blackjack, EZ baccarat, Squeeze baccarat, and roulette.
Players who want to gamble within the comfort of their home in Surrey can enjoy playing at online casinos that accept Surrey players.
Even though the province still has a stranglehold on the legal market, the simple fact that they're involved in the BC casino online industry shows that they may become even more flexible in the future. Legal issues aside, there is a lot of variety out there, with only a select few top sites that are totally committed to helping local Canada players find what they're looking for.
The sites that we recommend here are known for accepting Canadian players, the most popular deposit options, and even Canadian Dollars! Since you can sign up for free today, there's nothing stopping you from getting started.
Enjoy BC online casinos today!