About commercial gambling

In British Columbia, gambling is a regulated activity and is only legal when managed by the provincial government.

The B.C. Lottery Corporation (BCLC) conducts and manages all commercial gambling in the province on behalf of the B.C. government.

You must be over 19 years of age to participate in gambling in B.C. It is against the law for minors to be present at a gambling facility or participate in gambling of any kind.

Gambling in B.C.

In B.C., gambling is permitted at casino and bingo facilities, through lottery and sports betting products, and through iGaming offered by BCLC. BCLC's PlayNow.com is the only regulated online gambling website permitted in B.C.

To learn how to gamble responsibly, visit Gambling Support BC.

Who and what needs to be registered or certified

If you work in or operate a company in the gambling industry in B.C., you need to be registered with the Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO).

People

If you work in the gambling industry, please visit Gaming Worker Registration. If you work in the horse racing industry, please visit Horse Racing.

Companies

To learn how to operate a company within the gambling industry in B.C., visit Corporate Registration.

Lottery Retailers

Companies who have a contract with BCLC to sell lottery products must be registered with the IGCO. Please visit Lottery Registration for more information.

Supplies

Gambling supplies must undergo testing and be approved to ensure they are fair, safe, reliable and secure.

If you are not sure if you or your company needs to be registered, please contact us.