Your guide to British Columbia's online casinos in 2023

British Columbia, like some other provinces, has pursued their own gaming regulation to try to combat overseas sites.

BC, under the guidance of the British Columbia Lottery Commission (BCLC), now has its very own casino online. BC online casinos offer lottery, poker, bingo and casino games to Canadians in the province.

You can play with and against other British Columbians and also against players in Quebec (another province with its own individual gaming options).

With the state-run online casino, British Columbia offers some good gaming opportunities, although you might feel the choice is a little restrictive. But don't worry, there are literally dozens and dozens of top internet gaming rooms open, so just pick your casino. Online British Columbia players from Surrey to Burnaby are spoilt for choice in 2023.

The best online casinos should have a wide range of games available at stakes to suit all wallets, plus deposit methods you want. Some of the best gambling rooms accept CA dollars straight off the bat so you can avoid any annoying exchange rate issues on your real cash.

Furthermore, everyone wants to get their winnings quick, and that's why at Casino.org you will find the fastest cashouts in all of Canada. There's no need to hang about for your roulette winnings. Just use our trusted rooms and cut out the waiting game altogether.

• iPhone casinos - If you own an iPhone in BC you can easily play at most mobile casinos using apps or a browser.
• Android casinos - Android devices are accepted at most BC online casino sites with mobile support and you can expect to use apps or a mobile browser most of the time.

The early pioneers in BC were expert trackers, and chances are they would have been excellent at sniffing out top online casinos and promotions. British Columbia players have access to some of the best websites on the internet. Luckily we have done the hard work for you, so it'll take you no time at all to find the perfect site for you.

Our Canadian team of gambling experts has tried and tested all the online gaming opportunities in the region to ensure you are playing at a top casino online. Having seen some fantastic innovations in casino software, including the development of accessible mobile and smartphone apps for gamers, we're very excited about the online casino scene in British Columbia for 2023.

Have a look through our recommended sites for the best places to play roulette, slots or craps. Once you've made your choice, sign up with an exclusive bonus code for the chance to win hundreds of C$ if you play real money games.

Low deposit casinos in British Columbia give you the chance to start gambling online by depositing as little as $1. Our recommended sites offer a fantastic array of online casino games and bonuses to new players, including free spins and matched deposits. We compare the best sites in our guides to minimum deposit casinos:

There are a wide range of game types available to play in British Columbia, and most of them can be enjoyed without spending a cent.

This is because online casinos generally offer free versions of popular titles, with free slots, table games and card games available. This lets you play for fun and to practice the games before trying the real money equivalent if you choose to do so.

You might also get free spins to enjoy when new games are launched, or for registering at one of the top-rated casinos listed above.

As well as great online gambling, BC boasts some of Canada's best live gambling establishments too. Whether it's the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond or the Lake City chain across the province, Canadians are never short of a place to go to get their fix.

BC has produced some world-class poker pros over the years, with many Canadians from the region going on to take down WSOP and WPT titles.

It's worth noting that to gamble in BC you have to be 19 or over. This differs slightly to the 18 age limit imposed in other Canadian provinces.

• 1892 – The Criminal Code of Canada is passed, banning all gambling except for charitable lottery raffles of $50 or less, carnival “chance games”, and betting on horse races at legal racetracks.
• 1976 – British Columbia adopts “Sport Action” as a way to exploit a legal loophole and allow a form of sports betting.
• 1985 – The British Columbia Lottery Corp was formed.
• 1985 – The federal government hands control of lotteries, as well as some freedoms on running slot machines and video-based gaming to the provinces.
• 1986 – British Columbia opens the first two permanent-location casinos in Canada. Great Canadian Gaming’s The Casino at Holiday Inn and Nanaimo Casino.
• 2004 – British Columbia establishes the British Columbia Lottery Corp (BCLC) and becomes one of the first governments in the world to officially legalize certain online gambling activities.
• 2010 – British Columbia becomes the first legally authorized and regulated online casino gaming jurisdiction in North America.
• 2011 – British Columbia becomes the first province to launch regulated online poker.
• 2021 – Canada legalizes single-event sports betting.

Both casino gambling and sports betting are currently legal in British Columbia. While online sports betting is currently limited to one site which is owned and operated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, there are a range of online casinos available.

All of the casinos we’ve recommended above for people gambling in British Columbia are fully compliant and up to date with all legal requirements in the province. More information on regulation and taxes on British Columbia gambling can be found below:

British Columbia gambling regulations

British Columbia takes the safety and security of its residents seriously, and has enacted several pieces of legislation to guarantee online gambling is a regulated space to play. The key laws governing the way casinos and sportsbooks operate in the province includes the Gaming Control Act and the Gaming Control Regulation.

The legal age for gambling in British Columbia, whether you prefer to play online or at brick-and-mortar sites, is 19+.

Gambling taxes in British Columbia

If you’re gambling in British Columbia you don’t need to worry about paying taxes on your winnings. The only exception to this is if you’re a professional gambler. This is all explained in paragraph 40(2)(f) of the Income Tax Act.

The only time you might need to pay tax on gambling as a recreational gambler is if you start to earn interest on anything you’ve won. You will need to report this on your tax return, and you might need to fill in extra forms as a result.

While online casino gaming in British Columbia can be fun, you should always play responsibly as well. This means setting yourself limits, playing only with money you can afford to lose, playing purely for the fun of it, and only playing when you're sober. If not, you might end up developing symptoms of problem gambling.

If you’re worried you might be developing a problem some warning signs to look out for include: spending more time or money gambling than intended, “chasing losses” by trying to win them back instantly, taking out loans which you then spend gambling, feeling guilty about the time or money you spend gambling, or finding yourself in arguments with family and friends over your gambling.

If you start displaying any of these symptoms while gambling, then you should look for help and advice.

Fortunately, British Columbia takes responsible gambling seriously with free services available through Gambling Support BC. They give you the option to self-assess your recent gaming behavior, while offering various support options. You can request support online or contact the multilingual Gambling Support Line 24/7, toll free, on 1-888-795-6111.

• British Columbia – Gambling laws, regulations and policies
• Global Law Experts – Is Gambling Taxable in Canada? Are Poker Winnings Taxable?
• Gambling Support BC