Gambling in British Columbia

In British Columbia, these are: Gaming Policy and Enforcement Division (GPEB). The regulator operates in accordance with the Provincial Gambling Control Act. Also, in its work GPEB is guided by: "Regulations on the control of gambling" and "Criminal Code of Canada"

There is a legal portal BCLC - the British Columbia Lottery Corporation;

History of the gambling in British Columbia

British Columbia is a province of Canada that offers several casinos. The exact date of foundation of the first casino is not indicated in official sources. Therefore, we will count from the moment of the opening of the first legal online casino in the province - 2010.

British Columbia offers casinos, horse racing, bingo and lotteries, slot machines are available from the age of 19.

The third place around the most gambling provinces is occupied by British Columbia - 3818 establishments or 1 establishment for 980 people.

How to choose the right casino in British Columbia?

• Step 1 – If you know the airport you are flying into, it is a good idea to see the casinos next to it. In many cases, the casinos offer a direct transfer from and to the airport. The biggest airports are  Vancouver International Airport and Victoria International Airport.

• Step 2 – Choose a hotel that offers the casino inside or sometimes the casino is already on the territory of the hotel.

• Step 3 – Do you like the particular game? Then you can choose the casino according to the game offered there.

• Step 4 – Some cities in British Columbia offer a great entertainment, so it is nice to stay somewhere where you can escape gambling world quickly. 

Casino Games in BC

Table Games

British Columbia casinos are very famous for their table games’ variety. You can play some real classics such as Blackjack, Baccarat, Poker, Craps, Roulette, Sic Bo and Pie Go; There are always more than hundreds of tables available in different casinos there.

Bingo

In British Columbia territory, there is the biggest offer of Bingo. Those games are licensed by a separate license. You can find the total of 6 bingo halls. British Columbia also boasts the largest number of e-bingo machines that stands by 4,069.

Horse Racing

There is no territory that does not have some beautiful horse racing tracks. One of the most attractive examples is the one of Hastings Park, that is situated just four miles from downtown Vancouver. When it opened in 1889, it made Vancouver the city to be in if you enjoy betting on the horses. The horse track is constantly visited by the tourists coming from the U.S.

Lottery

Here you can also find the stands that offer the National Lottery tickets. Those are also licensed by BCLC. There include such offers as national Lotto Max, Lotto 6/49 and Daily Grand, as well as BC49 lottery products, Extra, Keno, Scratch & Win and Sports Action tickets.

Slot Machines

In British Columbia, there is not much of an interest to the slot machines as such. You can find some slot machines in the land-based casinos that offer the overall casino experience. 

Responsible Gambling

British Columbia has a strict rule that concerns the responsible gaming program that can be found on their official website. It is called GameSense. It is supposed to help the players who cannot control their gaming activity and spend lots of money they cannot afford. It offers the advice and information that can be found printed in any land-based casino. You can also call a free phone under 1-888-795-6111.

Also, every casino has to offer a consultation on place from a GameSense psychologist-consultant who is trained to deal with such requests. Of course, there is also a voluntary self-exclusion program available on the spot. The players who have entered such a program are prohibited from entering any casino in British Columbia for a specified period of time.

As a member of GameSense program, you can exclude yourself from the casinos of up to 3 years. If you are seen entering the casino during this time, you will be immediately asked to leave the premises.

If a member violates their obligations and enters the casino unnoticed during the exclusion period, they are not eligible to win any prizes.

The importance of the program was stressed out by a former student in Vancouver, who ended by spending all her money in the casino. Those funds had to support her studies as a foreign student. Out of a desperation, she had to become a prostitute to finance her studies until she found the help in the program GameSense.

We cannot stress enough that gambling is never a good idea and it can cause lots of damage to your life.

Gambling Complaints

How to file a complaint in British Columbia:

Online Service: File a Criminal or Regulatory Complaint

Email: Gaming.Branch@gov.bc.ca

Phone (Victoria): 250 387-5311

Phone (Greater Vancouver): 604 660-0245

Phone (Kelowna): 250 861-7363

Phone (Prince George): 250 612-4122

Toll-free within B.C.: 1 800 663-7867

What to do in British Columbia?

• The Vancouver Art Gallery is one of the largest in Canada. The collection of the gallery includes about 10,000 works of contemporary art in different directions, including 157 works by the famous artist Emily Carter.

• The British Columbia Maritime Museum is dedicated to the history and heritage of Canada's maritime activities. In addition to exhibiting exhibits, the museum is engaged in scientific research and educational programs that encourage the study and preservation of history.

• Devon Island belongs to the Arctic Archipelago of Canada and is part of the Queen Elizabeth Islands. It is the largest uninhabited island in the world.

• The Royal Theater opened in 1913. Now it has 1416 places. The theater has performed such great performers as Sarah Bernhardt, Carlos Montoya, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Luciano Pavarotti, National Ballet of Canada, Tony Bennett, as well as Crosby, Stills and Nash.

• British Columbia is home to a number of provincial animals, the most unique of which is the Ghost Bear.

• Whistler Blackcomb is one of the best skiing and snowboarding resorts in North America.

• In 2010, Vancouver and Whistler hosted one of the largest sporting events in the world, the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

• British Columbia has some of the lowest electricity costs in North America.