All horse race track and teletheatre operators in B.C. must be licensed by the IGCO. The licensing process includes background investigations of the operator and its senior officials.
On this page
Who needs a licence
These types of companies or operators need a licence:
- Operators of horse race tracks, either year round (25 or more days per year) or temporary (less than 25 days per year)
- Teletheatre operators
Other related parties also need to be licensed:
- Administrators of race purse money
- Providers of off-track wagering services at teletheatres
- Lessors of premises used as race tracks or teletheatres
Associated companies are subject to due diligence investigations, for example:
- Parent
- Shareholder
- Investor
- Lender
- Subsidiary
Licensed companies must be based in B.C. or registered as an extra-provincial company with the BC Registry Office.
The Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) issues licences to race track and teletheatre operators to conduct pari-mutuel betting on horse races.
How to apply
Before starting your application, contact the IGCO to discuss what documents and information you need to submit.
To help us determine your disclosure requirements, you need to provide:
- An overview of your company's ownership structure, or a business relationship chart
- A list of all direct and indirect shareholders
- An organization chart with the directors, officers and senior employees
Fees
This is the general fee structure. A specific fee breakdown will be provided based on your discussions with the IGCO.
The annual licence fee does not apply to associates of a licensee.
Annual application and licensing fees
Race track operators
| Criteria | Cost per site |
|---|---|
| Race track operators with 25 or more race days per year | $6,285 |
| Temporary race track operators with less than 25 race days per year | $125 |
Teletheatre operators
| Criteria | Cost per site |
|---|---|
| Teletheatre operators | $300 |
Additional fees
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Senior horse racing officials | $250 per person |
| Horse racing facility lessors | $300 per facility |
| Purse administrators | $500 |
| Wagering services providers | $1,250 |
Fee payment
Pay your fees in Canadian dollars by:
- Money order or certified cheque payable to the Minister of Finance
- Wire transfer (EFT)
Fees are non-refundable.
Background investigations
As part of the licensing process, senior officials of race track and teletheatre operators are required to submit to a background check, which includes but is not limited to a criminal record check and a credit check. You need to cover the estimated and related costs of a background investigation before a licence can be issued.
- Investigative time is charged at $150 per hour plus travel expenses
- Funds must be received before the investigation starts
- Once the investigation is complete, you will be refunded any excess