The Best British Columbia Online Casinos in 2022

British Columbia online casinos remain popular in 2024, and our expert reviewers have looked into the current gambling status in B.C from a legal and variety perspective.

British Columbia residents currently have access to 20 land-based casinos and much more when gambling online. Read our guide to find the best sites for all types of players.

Games at B.C. Online Casinos

Online casinos in British Columbia are so popular that any you can imagine is available at gambling sites. Online slots, video poker, sports betting, or lottery – it’s all there in B.C.

At PlayNow, British Columbia’s government-owned gambling website, you can play all of the above as well as Bingo. However, if you want the biggest choice, there’s no way around offshore online casinos, which tend to have thousands of games.

Pick one of our recommended sites from above to get started. Registration is completely free and usually takes less than two minutes to sign-up and log in. If you want more information, especially in regard to the legal situation in B.C., continue reading the next section of our guide.

Mobile Casinos in British Columbia

In recent years, more players have accessed online casinos through their smartphones. Some regulated markets report that over 80% of customers place bets via mobile phones, and the upward trend continues in 2024.

Fortunately, mobile casinos are broadly available in British Columbia. PlayNow, the province’s legal gambling site, and international online casinos offer their services across all devices.

What’s best; you don’t even have to download an online casino app. Instead, just visit the website through your phone’s browser, and play just as you would on your laptop. This works on the following devices:

• iPhone
• Android devices
• Windows Phones
• Tablets (iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Fire Tablet)

Of course, you can still install gambling apps onto your phone, but we recommend playing in-browser instead. It won’t take up any space on your smartphone, and you will get immediate access to the entire game catalog.

Legal Gambling in British Columbia, Canada

When mentioning online casinos in Canada, no matter what province, we also have to discuss the legal situation.

As some of you know, online gambling has been sitting in a legal gray zone since it became popular in the late 90s. All Canadian provinces and territories officially prohibit online gambling, whether in Alberta, British Columbia, or Quebec.

Most states make an exception when gambling happens through state-owned casinos, whether online or offline. For example, in B.C., participating in games of chance at PlayNow.com is perfectly legal. Anywhere else, however, it’s not.

While this is true in theory, it’s more complex when looking at current law. There, gambling is prohibited if not state-owned, but online gambling is not. Operators have used this loophole for years successfully, and there is no known case where a player has been punished for registering, logging in, or playing at an overseas casino.

For that reason, we consider all online casinos to be safe in British Columbia, but if you prefer to go the 100% legal route, check out the next section.

PlayNow.com – B.C.'s Legal Gambling Site

As per B.C.’s official guidelines, online gambling is legal when managed by a provincial government. In the case of British Columbia, the BC Lottery Corporation is the official operator of PlayNow.com, a comprehensive gambling platform for B.C. residents.

At PlayNow, you find all games one could ask for, such as:

• Online Slots
• Table Games
• Video Poker
• Bingo
• Lottery

Signing up and logging in is easy, and you only have to provide a few personal details, such as your name, address, date of birth, and email address. Remember that you must be 19+ to gamble online in the province of British Columbia. Online casinos – local or international – will verify your age by requesting copies of your ID or passport.

When signing up, all new customers will receive the chance to get a CA$20 Freeplay token. To qualify, you must make a minimum deposit of CA$20 and spend it on any of PlayNow’s casino games (excluding live casino games).

As always, wagering requirements are attached to the bonus, so please read through the terms and conditions before signing up and accepting the offer.

Top 3 Land-Based British Columbia Casinos

If online gambling is not your thing, you might be pleased to hear that British Columbia has 20 land-based casinos, 17 bingo halls, and two race tracks where you can wager money in real life.

1. Starlight Casino

The Starlight Casino in New Westminster is B.C.’s most popular casino. Featuring 54 gaming tables, a special section for VIP players, and close to 1000 slot machines, Starlight Casino is the perfect choice for any serious gambler.

The gambling venue is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

350 Gifford Street
New Westminster, BC V3M 7A3
Phone: 604-777-2946
Email: info@starlightcasino.ca

Visit Website

2. Parq Vancouver

If you live in the Vancouver area, there’s no way around the Parq Vancouver. Enjoy playing table games like Blackjack, Baccarat, Poker (Three Card, Pot Limit Omaha, and more), and Roulette, or join the new poker room. If slots are what you’re after, visit the second and third levels and choose from hundreds of slot machines, including high-limit slots.

39 Smithe Street
Vancouver, V6B 0R3
British Columbia
Phone: +1 604-683-7277
Email: Info@ParqVancouver.com

Visit Website

3. River Rock Casino Resort

If you live in South Vancouver and don’t want to travel all the way to BC Place, check out the River Rock in Richmond. The Casino resort features a full selection of table games, racebooks, a poker room, and over 1,100 slot machines. The venue is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and all you need to enter is a valid I.D. as proof that you’re 19 years or older.

8811 River Road,
Richmond, BC
V6X 3P8
Phone: +1 866-748-3718

Visit Website

B.C. FAQ