What PlayNow is
PlayNow is BCLC's online gambling site. It offers casino games, poker, lottery and sports betting.
BCLC owns and runs it on behalf of the province, under the oversight of the provincial regulator. It is open only to players located in BC.
BCLC operates every kind of commercial gambling across the province, casinos and online play included, on behalf of the BC government. In BC, the provincial government must run any gambling for it to be legal.
The official position on other sites
For B.C., the province names PlayNow.com as its one legal online gambling site
Other gambling sites may be reachable from BC, but without a BC licence they are not legal. The provincial regulator oversees online gambling in BC, and PlayNow holds the sole licence.
PlayNow adds a practical warning. An unlicensed site can stall withdrawals or add new verification steps, and no one will step in to stop it.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- October 1, 2025: BCLC began reporting casino payouts over $10,000 to FINTRAC, the federal financial intelligence agency. The same government page notes that PlayNow runs on 100% verified, account-based play.
- April 13, 2026: The new Gaming Control Act took effect. On that date the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB) became the Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO). The government release says the regulator is independent, is responsible for anti-money-laundering, and can issue directives to BCLC without the minister's consent.
As of October 2026, the BC government and BCLC had announced no plan to license private online operators.
Who PlayNow is for
To play on PlayNow, a person must be:
- 19 or older
- A BC resident, physically in BC when playing
- Not enrolled in Game Break and not otherwise prohibited
BCLC's eGaming FAQ says age and residency are checked through a major Canadian credit bureau. It also lists a maximum weekly transfer into an account of $9,999.
Encore Rewards and PlayNow
Encore Rewards is the loyalty program shown for Great Canadian Casino Vancouver. The venue's Show Theatre page says members earn points at BC casinos and on PlayNow.
One note on that page: it was written before the casino's ownership changed on May 5, 2026. Whether the program details have changed since is not yet confirmed. Guest Services at the casino can say what applies now.
GameSense and Game Break
GameSense is BCLC's responsible gambling program, and it is built into PlayNow. GameSense Advisors can be reached through PlayNow Live Chat, at 1-866-815-0222, or in person at a casino.
BCLC's voluntary self-exclusion program goes by the name Game Break. The GameSense FAQ lays it out:
- Terms: 6 months, plus 1-year, 2-year and 3-year options
- It starts right away and cannot be cancelled or shortened, though it can be extended
- You can enrol directly on PlayNow.com, in person at a gambling facility or BCLC office, or virtually with an advisor
- Phone: 1-866-815-0222, press 3 (7 a.m. to midnight daily)
BCLC's April 2025 fact sheet says enrolling anywhere excludes you from both PlayNow and all BC gambling facilities. Some older information says otherwise, so it is worth confirming with a GameSense Advisor when you enrol.
If it stops feeling like fun
Gambling Support BC is free, confidential and open 24/7. Call 1-888-795-6111 or visit gamblingsupportbc.ca. More options are on the gambling support page.