Updated 2 November 2026
If you live in British Columbia, there’s exactly one online casino licensed by the province: PlayNow, run by the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC). Even so, the province estimates that PlayNow takes only about half of what British Columbians spend on online gambling; the rest goes to offshore sites. This page explains what’s legal, what PlayNow offers, which offshore casinos BC players use and what to check before signing up with one.
Short answer: PlayNow is the only BC-regulated option, with casino games, live dealers, sports betting, poker, bingo and lottery for players 19 and over who are physically in BC. Offshore casinos such as HellSpin, National Casino or 20Bet accept BC players and offer bigger bonuses, but they’re licensed elsewhere (usually Kahnawake or Curaçao), not by BC, so you don’t get BC’s player protections.
Is Online Gambling Legal in British Columbia?
Yes, through PlayNow. Under the Criminal Code, online casino games in Canada must be run or licensed by a province, and in BC that’s BCLC’s PlayNow. Since 13 April 2026, gambling in BC has been overseen by a new Independent Gambling Control Office, which separates regulation from BCLC’s business of running games.
Offshore casinos aren’t licensed in BC, but many British Columbians use them. If something goes wrong at one, you can only complain to the casino’s own regulator abroad, not to anyone in BC. According to Finance Minister Brenda Bailey’s budget estimates, PlayNow takes about 51% of BC’s online gambling market. A Canadian Gaming Association study found that 60.4% of recent online gamblers in BC used only unregulated sites.
PlayNow: BC’s Official Online Casino
PlayNow.com covers lottery (Lotto Max, Lotto 6/49, Scratch & Win), Keno, casino slots and table games, live casino, sports betting, poker and bingo. You must be 19 or older, a BC resident and physically in BC to play. Profits go to the province, which funds health care, education and community programmes.
- Pros: regulated in BC, player protections and support, problem-gambling tools built in, profits stay in the province.
- Cons: smaller welcome offers than offshore sites (the current one is a sports match of up to $250 in bonus bets), and a smaller game library.
Offshore Online Casinos BC Players Use
These casinos accept players from British Columbia, take Canadian dollars and Interac, and we’ve reviewed each of them. None is licensed in BC. We list the licence each one actually holds.
| Casino | Licence | Welcome bonus | Interac | Payouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HellSpin | Kahnawake | Up to C$5,200 + 150 FS, 40x | Yes | Interac within hours in tests |
| National Casino | Kahnawake | Up to C$1,500 + 150 FS, 40x | Yes | Up to 3 days; no weekend payouts reported |
| 20Bet | Kahnawake | 100% up to C$180 + 120 FS, 40x | Yes | Interac ~11.5 h average in one test |
| iViBet | Kahnawake | Up to C$450 + 170 FS, 40x | Yes | Interac 24–48 h |
| Lucky Hills | Curaçao | Up to C$2,000 + 100 FS, 40x | No | Approval 30 min–24 h |
HellSpin: biggest welcome package
Four-deposit package worth up to C$5,200 + 150 free spins, Interac and about a dozen cryptocurrencies, and Interac withdrawals that arrived within hours in recent tests. On the Kahnawake Gaming Commission register.
Min. deposit C$30, 40x wagering. 19+ in BC. T&Cs apply.
National Casino: Interac plus iDebit
Up to C$1,500 + 150 free spins over two deposits, with iDebit and instaDebit next to Interac. The minimum Interac withdrawal is C$10. Payouts can take up to three days, and AskGamblers reports that they aren’t processed at weekends.
Min. deposit C$25, 40x wagering. 19+ in BC. T&Cs apply.
20Bet: casino and sportsbook
A casino and a sportsbook with NHL and CFL markets on one balance. Interac deposits run from C$15 to C$3,000, and in one reviewer’s tests Interac withdrawals averaged about 11.5 hours.
Min. deposit C$30, 40x wagering. 19+ in BC. T&Cs apply.
PlayNow vs Offshore Casinos
| PlayNow | Offshore casinos | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed in BC | Yes (BCLC) | No (Kahnawake, Curaçao and others) |
| Welcome offers | Modest; sports match up to $250 | Large match packages, usually 35–40x wagering |
| Games | Slots, tables, live casino, sports, poker, bingo, lottery | Thousands of slots, live casino, often a sportsbook |
| Payments | Cards, Interac, PayPal, online bill payment | Interac, cards, e-wallets, crypto |
| If something goes wrong | BC’s gambling regulator | The casino’s foreign regulator |
| Age | 19+ | Set by the casino; BC’s legal age is 19 |
Payments for BC Players
Interac e-Transfer is the most common way British Columbians fund casino accounts. It’s paid straight from a chequing account, usually lands within minutes, and most offshore casinos above also pay out by Interac. Your bank sets how much you can send each day. Our guide to Interac casinos covers limits and fees, and fast payout casinos compares withdrawal speeds.
Will BC Open Its Online Casino Market?
Not yet. Ontario opened to private operators in 2022 and Alberta on 13 July 2026, and industry groups including the Canadian Online Gaming Alliance have lobbied Victoria to follow. The BC government hasn’t announced any plan or timeline. The new Independent Gambling Control Office would make licensing private operators easier if the government decides to, but for now PlayNow remains the only BC-licensed site.
Online Casino BC FAQ
Yes. PlayNow, run by the BC Lottery Corporation, is the province’s licensed online casino. Offshore casinos also accept BC players, but they’re licensed abroad, not in BC.
19. PlayNow requires players to be 19 or older, BC residents and physically in the province.
PlayNow is the only BC-regulated option. Among offshore casinos that accept BC players, HellSpin has the biggest welcome package and fast Interac payouts; National Casino and 20Bet are also popular.
Yes. PlayNow and most offshore casinos that accept BC players take Interac. Several offshore sites also pay out by Interac.
Licensed ones, such as those on the Kahnawake register, are generally reliable, but they aren’t regulated in BC. If a dispute comes up, you can only complain to their own regulator.
There’s no plan or timeline yet. Industry groups are lobbying, and Alberta opened its market on 13 July 2026, but BC hasn’t announced a decision.
Call the Gambling Support BC line, free and confidential 24/7, at 1-888-795-6111. PlayNow also has GameSense tools to set limits.
How We Checked This Page
We opened PlayNow.com on 2 November 2026; the screenshot is from that visit. Market figures come from Gambling.com’s report on BC’s budget estimates (August 2026) and Covers’ reporting on lobbying for an open market. Casino details come from our full reviews, last checked in October 2026, which give each casino’s licence, bonus terms and payout times. Offers change, so check the casino’s terms before you deposit.
Gambling should stay entertainment. Set a deposit limit before you play and never chase losses. You must be 19 or older to gamble in British Columbia. If it stops being fun, the Gambling Support BC line is free and confidential, 24/7, at 1-888-795-6111. See also Problem Gambling in Canada.
