Anyone working in British Columbia's commercial gambling industry must be registered with the Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO). You must be at least 19 years old to register.
On this page
- Who needs to register
- How to apply
- Fees
- Registration term
- After you apply
- Background checks
- Identification, photo and document requirements
- Applicants outside Canada
- Resources
- Contact us
Who needs to register
Casino and bingo facility employees
- This may include dealers, cashiers, food and beverage servers, and other gaming staff.
Workers in secure areas of a gaming facility
- This may include security guards, janitorial staff and others who work in restricted areas.
Certain charitable gaming event licence holders
- Some gaming event licence holders must register when it is a condition of their licence.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through the Gaming Online Service.
Before starting your application, review the Before you Apply page to make sure you have all required information and documents ready.
If you are renewing your registration, submit your renewal application 12 weeks before your registration expires.
Fees
The Gaming Worker application fee is $150.
Application fees:
- Are non-refundable
- Must be paid in Canadian dollars
- Must be paid online by credit card
Registration term
Gaming Worker registrations are valid for three years.
If your work permit expires before the end of your registration term, your registration will expire on the same date as your work permit.
After you apply
After you submit your application, the IGCO will:
- Review your application for completeness
- Request additional information if needed
- Conduct any required background checks or additional reviews
- Notify you of the decision
Processing time
Most complete applications with all required documents are processed within 10 business days. Processing times may vary if documents are missing, background checks or additional reviews are needed.
Applications that are incomplete, amended after submission, or require additional review may take longer to process.
Background checks
As part of the registration process, the IGCO may conduct background checks to assess your suitability for registration.
These checks may include:
- Criminal record checks
- Police information checks
- Credit checks
- Interviews
- Online searches
Identification, photo and document requirements
You must upload clear electronic copies of the required documents.
Identification
You must provide:
- One piece of valid primary identification
- One piece of valid secondary identification
Primary ID
Must be government-issued and include full legal name, date of birth and photo. Provide a colour copy of both sides.
- Passport
- Driver's licence
- Combined B.C. driver's licence and services card
- B.C. services card with photo
- BC ID
- Canadian Citizenship card
- Canadian Permanent Resident card
- Secure Certificate of Indian Status Card
Secondary ID
We accept the following as secondary ID:
- Bank or credit card with your name imprinted on the card
- B.C. Security Workers Licence card
- B.C. services card without photo
- Birth certificate
- Canadian Firearms Licence or Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)
- Canadian Forces identification
- Canadian record of landing
- Employee ID card with photo from Canadian employers only
- Foreign Affairs Canada or Consular Identification Health Card issued by a Canadian province or territory
- Certificate of Indian Status Card
- Nexus card
- Police ID card
- School student card from Canadian schools only with a valid expiry date
- Immigration documents, for example, a student, work, visitor or temporary-resident permit with a valid expiry date
Photo requirements
Your photo must meet the following requirements:
- Be in colour
- Be taken within the last three months
- Have a plain white background
- Be saved in JPG or PNG format
- Meet the required photo specifications
For examples of acceptable and unacceptable photos, see Canadian Passport photo specifications.
Additional documents
Depending on your circumstances, you may also be required to provide:
- Legal name change documents
- A Permanent Resident Card or Record of Landing
- A valid work or study permit (or proof of exemption)
- Other supporting documentation during the review process
Applicants outside Canada
If you currently live outside Canada, additional criminal record documentation is required. Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
Applicants living in the United States
Applicants living in the United States must provide:
- An FBI Identity History Summary
- A local police check from the police agency serving their place of residence
Applicants living in other countries
Applicants living outside Canada and the United States must provide the police certificate required for your country of residence.
How to Get a Police Certificate (Canada.ca)