Provinces

Sports betting in British Columbia: is it legal in BC?

Check who may run sports betting in BC, the gambling age, the only legal online site and where to get help. All rules below come from B.C. government pages.

British Columbia

19+Provincial lottery corporation

Legal age

  • All gambling in B.C.19+
    Source · gov.bc.ca
    You must be 19 years or older to gamble in B.C.

    Saved copy · checked Oct 27, 2026

Who offers betting

  • Gambling is legal only when the provincial government runs it; BCLC manages it, online included
    Source · gov.bc.ca
    In B.C., gambling is legal only when it's run by the provincial government.
    The BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) manages all commercial gambling, including casinos and online gambling, for the B.C. government.

    Saved copy · checked Oct 27, 2026

  • PlayNow.com – the only legal online gambling site in B.C., per the province
    Source · gov.bc.ca
    PlayNow.com is the only legal online gambling site in B.C.

    Saved copy · checked Oct 27, 2026

Self-exclusion

Help line

  • Gambling Support BC 24/71-888-795-6111
    Source · gov.bc.ca
    Call us toll-free 24/7 at 1-888-795-6111

    Saved copy · checked Oct 27, 2026

What changed

  1. Modernized Gaming Control Act came into force
    Source · gov.bc.ca
    Modernizing the provincial Gaming Control Act, which came into force on April 13, 2026

    Saved copy · checked Oct 27, 2026

  2. Bill C-218 received royal assent: single-event sports betting across Canada Canada-wide
    Source · parl.ca
    royal assent on Tuesday, June 29, 2021
    Statutes of Canada 2021, c. 20

    Saved copy · checked Oct 27, 2026

Ages in every province → All help lines →

Other provinces

Tap a tile to compare

  • Private sites on an official registry, and the province
  • Run by the provincial lottery corporation
  • Not verified yet

Across Canada

  • Each province conducts and manages lottery schemes in its own territory (Criminal Code s. 207(1)(a))
    Source · laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
    for the government of a province, either alone or in conjunction with the government of another province, to conduct and manage a lottery scheme in that province

    Saved copy · checked Oct 27, 2026

  • Single-event sports betting is allowed in provincial lottery schemes (Bill C-218)
    Source · laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
    betting on a race — other than a horse-race — or fight, or on a single sport event or athletic contest

    Saved copy · checked Oct 27, 2026

Facts only, each with its official source and the date we checked it. This is not legal advice: the answer depends on the laws where you live.

Woman on a bench holding a card with mountains

BC gambling rules at a glance

Gambling age

19+

The minimum age for all gambling in B.C. is 19+.

Who may run gambling

Provincial government only

In B.C., gambling is legal only when the provincial government runs it. BCLC manages commercial gambling, including online gambling.

Only legal online site

PlayNow.com

The B.C. government says PlayNow.com is the only legal online gambling site in B.C.

New Gaming Control Act

Apr 13, 2026

A modernized provincial Gaming Control Act came into force on Apr 13, 2026.

Help line

Gambling Support BC

Toll-free, 24/7: 1-888-795-6111.

Self-exclusion

Free and voluntary

Casinos, bingo halls and PlayNow.com must offer a free voluntary self-exclusion program. You ask to be barred for a specified period.

Before you bet in BC

  1. Check your ageGambling in B.C. is only for people aged 19+.
  2. Know which online site is legalOnline, the only legal gambling site in B.C. is PlayNow.com. See PlayNow Sports for an overview.
  3. Know what a price paysFor example, $10.00 at +150 returns $25.00 if it wins. Every price includes the margin, so betting has a cost.
  4. Set your own limitsDecide in advance how much money and time you can lose. Check combined bets with the parlay calculator.
  5. Self-exclusion and blockingSelf-exclusion covers casinos, bingo halls and PlayNow.com. You can also block gambling sites and apps.

Words you will see in BC

BCLC
The body that manages commercial gambling in B.C., including online gambling.
PlayNow.com
The only legal online gambling site in B.C., according to the B.C. government.
Gaming Control Act
The provincial law on gambling. Its modernized version came into force on Apr 13, 2026.
Self-exclusion
A free voluntary program: you ask casinos, bingo halls and PlayNow.com to bar you for a specified period.

Sources

Questions

Is sports betting legal in BC?

The B.C. government says gambling is legal only when the provincial government runs it, and PlayNow.com is the only legal online gambling site. The full answer depends on provincial law; this page is not legal advice.

What is the legal betting age in BC?

The minimum age for all gambling in B.C. is 19+. See gambling age by province to compare.

Which betting sites are legal in BC?

According to the B.C. government, PlayNow.com is the only legal online gambling site in B.C.

What is self-exclusion in BC?

Casinos, bingo halls and PlayNow.com must offer a free voluntary self-exclusion program: you ask to be barred for a specified period. For gambling support, Gambling Support BC answers toll-free 24/7 at 1-888-795-6111.

When did BC's new Gaming Control Act take effect?

The modernized provincial Gaming Control Act came into force on Apr 13, 2026. For what it changes, check the B.C. government pages listed in the sources.