British Columbia Online Casinos
The Legalities of Playing on British Columbia Casino Sites
Online gambling is regulated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. In addition to tracking land-based gambling, the BCLC now also has its own site where you can find lottery, bingo, poker, and various casino games.
This province, like some other Canadian provinces, pursued their individual gaming regulations and made online casinos possible for people within the borders of BC. Today, if you are at least 19 years old, you can gamble in online casinos in British Columbia, as well as in offshore sites.
To play online, gamblers need to provide identification documents to prove that they are of legal age. In addition to this, the casino may ask you to provide proof of residence such as utility bill.
Online gamblers in British Columbia don’t have to pay taxes when they win money and withdraw them. This is only applicable in the case where you make a living from betting i.e. gamble professionally.
Regulated vs. Offshore British Columbia Casino Websites
In the attempt to keep players gambling in local casinos, BC has legalized and is regulating online gambling within its borders. A lot has happened since this was legalized. Even so, there’s just one casino holding a BC license to operate online at the moment – the BCLC site.
Even though this is the case, players within the borders of the province can still choose to gamble at offshore sites. These aren’t covered by BC laws, but as long as they choose sites with a good license and reputation, they shouldn’t have any problems.
So, if you find yourself in British Columbia today, you can easily gamble at a Vancouver online casino that holds an official license by the province. Or, you can go to an offshore casino licensed by trusted bodies like the Malta Gaming Authority or the UKGC and play there.
Some players prefer the latter when they find bigger or better promotions, or a wider choice of games. Other prefer playing in the best online casino BC sites because they feel safer doing so. In the end, it’s all down to preference.
The Pros and Cons of Gambling at a Regulated Online BC Casino
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of playing at licensed and regulated online casinos in BC.
Pros:
- Gambling is regulated and falls under BC laws.
- Access to a growing number of BC mobile casino sites to play at.
- A wide choice of games and good bonuses.
- Winnings are not taxable.
Cons:
- You can’t play at these casinos if you leave the borders of British Columbia.
- Some offshore casinos might have bigger bonuses or more games to offer.
Top British Columbia Casino Sites to Play At
There are plenty of online casinos where you can play today, but some enjoy more popularity than others. Let’s take a look at the top 3.
JackpotCity Casino
| Year of operation | 1998 |
| Payout rate | 97.46% |
| Payout speed | 24-48 hours |
| License | Malta Gaming Authority |
| Welcome bonus | C$1600 |
JackpotCity is a trending site available to those in BC, offering over 500 games from Microgaming, one of the top software developers. It also offers games from NetEnt and Evolution Gaming, most of which are available on their optimized Android and iOS app.
Spin Casino
| Year of operation | 2001 |
| Payout rate | 97.59% |
| Payout speed | 24-48 hours |
| License | Malta Gaming Authority, UKGC |
| Welcome bonus | C$2000 |
Spin Casino has hundreds of slot machines, as well as many table and card games, and a trending live casino. It holds two licenses, making it a very safe site to play at. You can also choose between various banking methods for instant deposits and fast withdrawals.
Ruby Fortune
| Year of operation | 2003 |
| Payout rate | 95.27% |
| Payout speed | 24-48 hours |
| License | Malta Gaming Authority |
| Welcome bonus | C$2000 |
The third in our list is Ruby Fortune, a casino frequented by many players in BC. This site is popular for its many tournaments, generous bonuses, and the inclusive loyalty program. It offers hundreds of games from top-ranked developers and numerous options for deposits and withdrawals.
Tips for Choosing a Good British Columbia Online Casino
Since you have many options to gamble in British Columbia, it can be hard to choose where to play. If you want to make this process simpler – and more effective, look for the following when considering your options:
License
There are certain regulatory bodies that are highly trusted among gamblers because of their rigorous process and frequent regulation updates. These include the MGA, UKGC, Curacao Gaming Commission, etc. Never, ever gamble on a website that doesn’t provide license details. In most cases, you can find this information at the bottom of the page.
Banking Options
You probably want to get your payouts fast when you win, so look for sites with a good list of banking methods. The fastest methods used today are electronic wallets, credit and debit cards, and cryptocurrency.
Game Options
Let’s say that you found an online casino in Surrey to gamble at. You checked if it’s licensed and the bonus is high. Before you make your deposit, check the game choices the casino offers. Some offer more games and titles of higher quality than others, and this is very important for your experience when gambling.
Customer Support
You should be able to find the support of a casino at any point. Look for sites with non-stop customer support with various contact channels and good reputation.
Bonuses
This is perhaps the biggest reason why players choose to gamble at an online casino instead of a, let’s say, a land-based Caribou casino British Columbia. Online casinos have the best bonuses, but before you jump at the opportunity to claim one, read the fine print to see what terms the bonus comes with.
Games Found on Online Casino British Columbia Real Money Sites
If you gamble in BC, you can find all kinds of games online. Here are the main categories.
Online Slots
Slots come in the biggest numbers. You can play classic, progressive, 3D, video slots, etc. You’ll find thousands of them online.
Live Dealer
Live dealer games are casino games played with a dealer on the screen in real time. These are very popular with gamblers. You can play poker, blackjack, roulette, and other live games in BC casinos.
Table and Card Games
Table and card games remain some of the most played in casinos even today. The difference is that today there are so many variants that you can never get bored.
Online Poker
Online poker is legal and trending in British Columbia. There are many variants of the game, and you can even find tables with a live dealer.
Top Choices for Land-Based Casino in British Columbia
If you are more of a brick-and-mortar casino gambler, here are the top choices for land-based casinos in British Columbia:
- Hard Rock
Hard Rock is one of the best-ranked, most visited land-based casinos in BC, with a gaming floor with 950+ slot machines. You can also play roulette, blackjack, and poker in the casino. Its 1100-seat theatre frequently hosts performances such as concerts and shows, and you can dine in one of the many restaurants.
- Parq Vancouver
Parq Vancouver offers premium gambling on 75+ table games and 600 slot machines. They spread these across 2 floors and also have VIP salons and a poker room, as well as restaurants, lounges, and bars. You can stay at one of the two hotels on site, The Douglas or the JW Marriott.
- River Rock Resort
The River Rock casino is located in Richmond and operates non-stop. It has dozens of table games, a poker room, and over 1000 slot machines. There are plenty of entertainment options including restaurants and a theatre, as well as hotel rooms and resort suites.
Online Casino BC vs. Land-Based Casino
| Online casinos | Land-based casinos |
|---|---|
| Big welcome bonuses | Perks like free beverages, meals, entertainment |
| Unlimited space for games – usually offer hundreds to thousands of games | Limited space for games |
| Flexibility to play from any place | Luxurious gambling that requires going to the casino |
Responsible Gambling at a Casino British Columbia
People from BC love gambling, but problem gambling can be an issue everywhere in the world. This is why casinos take precautions and measures to inform and protect their players. You can find Responsible Gambling information on all licensed websites, as well as opt-out programs and help contact details. Here are also some tips to help gambling enthusiasts in BC play responsibly:
- Set a budget: Determine how much money you are willing to spend on gambling and stick to it. Never exceed your budget even if you feel lucky.
- Take breaks: Take frequent breaks while gambling to stay focused and avoid impulsive decisions.
- Avoid chasing losses: Don’t try to make up for losses by gambling more. This is a common mistake that leads to a vicious cycle of more losses and more gambling.
- Know the game: Understand the game you are playing and learn the rules and strategies.
- Don’t drink alcohol when gambling: Drinking alcohol can impair your judgment making it difficult to make good decisions.
- Seek help: If you feel that you are developing a gambling problem or addiction, seek help from a professional.
- Use self-exclusion options: Most casinos offer self-exclusion options where you can voluntarily exclude yourself from playing for a certain period of time.
FAQ about British Columbia Online Casino
You need to be at least 19 years old to be able to gamble at an online casino within the borders of British Columbia.
No. Unless you gamble professionally, your gambling winnings aren’t taxable in this province and all of Canada.
The largest casino in BC today is the River Rock with 70,000 square feet of gaming space, 1000+ slots, and over 100 table games. It has 396 rooms.
Online casinos use geolocation to check where the players are located when they access the website.
Yes. As long as you play at the official BC casino site or licensed offshore websites with a good reputation, you can play legally and safely.
Yes. The British Columbia Lottery Commission casino is the only licensed online gambling site at the moment. You can gamble there or at offshore casinos.
Yes. This is legalized and regulated in British Columbia, so you can play legally as long as you are at least 19 years old.
Yes. The official BCLC casino has lottery as one of the gaming options offered. You can also play poker, slots, table games, etc.