Situated along the west coast of Canada is British Columbia, the second most populated province with 4.9 million. With a booming and diverse economy including tourism, mining, and telecommunications to name a few.
With such a large population and majority of sports teams located in the city center of Vancouver, sports betting has been a substantial market along the west coast, and with Bill C-218 being passed, allowing single-game sports betting in Canada, that number will continue to grow.
Since sports betting has always been technically legal in Canadian provinces in the form of parlay betting, British Columbian residents have been able to bet online and offline at their provincial lottery: BCLC (British Columbia Lottery Corporation).
Some of the wealthiest people in Canada reside in British Columbia, from celebrities to business moguls. This disposable income and large population often can lead to more sports betting, casino gambling, and lottery play than you’d find in smaller provinces. We also see plenty of cultural diversity in British Columbia, where people gather from different nationalities, which also brings a diverse interest in sport – not just interest in North American sports.
Affiliate Disclosure:At Gambling.com, we want to ensure that players are matched with the right casino and sportsbook offers for them. For this reason, some of the recommended site links are affiliate links. This means that if you visit a website through our link and make a deposit, Gambling.com will receive a commission payment at no extra cost to you.At Gambling.com, we want to ensure that players are matched with the right casino and sportsbook offers for them. For this reason, some of the recommended site links are affiliate links.At Gambling.com, we want to ensure that players are matched with the right casino and sportsbook offers for them. For this reason, some of the recommended site links are affiliate links. This means that if you visit a website through our link and make a deposit, Gambling.com will receive a commission payment at no extra cost to you. All product reviews and recommendations are still impartial as our editorial standards are designed to be commercially independent and follow a professional methodology.MoreLess
19+ T&C Apply. Play Responsibly. Full Terms Apply. This offer is not available for players residing in Ontario.
Regular Bettors Tournaments
Sport VIP Program
Ongoing 'Forecasts' Promotion
Promo Code
The code required to claim a sign-up bonus (if any)
not required
Min Deposit
15
Acca Insurance
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
No
Live Streaming
Is there live streaming of sporting events?
No
In-Play Betting
The number of sports with in-play betting available
21
Bet Builder
Can you create your own personalised bets?
No
TonyBet offers over 1,650 sports betting markets and sports. Aside from being spoilt for choice, bettors can also enjoy difrerent promotions. Plus the platform is available on all operating systems.
The code required to claim a sign-up bonus (if any)
not required
Min Deposit
10
Acca Insurance
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
No
Live Streaming
Is there live streaming of sporting events?
No
In-Play Betting
The number of sports with in-play betting available
10
Bet Builder
Can you create your own personalised bets?
Yes
EmirBet Sports offers an exceptional looking platform with the top sports and markets. Get some of the best odds out there on this secure platform. Tournaments and bonuses on championships gives an immersive experience to bettors. There are a wide variety of payment options for Canadian players.
19+ T&C Apply. Play Responsibly. Full Terms Apply. This offer is not available for players residing in Ontario.
Big Selection of Live Betting Markets
Official Partner of NLL
Competitive Odds on Various Sports and Events
Promo Code
The code required to claim a sign-up bonus (if any)
not required
Min Deposit
20
Acca Insurance
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
No
Live Streaming
Is there live streaming of sporting events?
No
In-Play Betting
The number of sports with in-play betting available
4
Bet Builder
Can you create your own personalised bets?
No
Sports Interaction is a dual platform offering both sportsbook and casino games. The brand delivers a plethora of options on both sides, offering a smooth experience on all platforms.
The code required to claim a sign-up bonus (if any)
not required
Min Deposit
15
Acca Insurance
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
No
Live Streaming
Is there live streaming of sporting events?
No
In-Play Betting
The number of sports with in-play betting available
8
Bet Builder
Can you create your own personalised bets?
No
Mr Mega Sports boasts an impressive and easy to use online betting interface, with markets on all major sports and events, plus a wide range of Esports betting markets.
19+ • $10 min deposit • The Bonus will be applied once the full deposit amount has been wagered at least once with cumulative odds of 1.5 or greater • Half of the bonus will be credited to you right away, while the other half will be credited after you verify your documents • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country & T&Cs apply
Huge Selection of Sports Betting Markets
One of the Oldest Online Sportsbooks
Exclusive Partnership with Sports Illustrated
Promo Code
The code required to claim a sign-up bonus (if any)
2KBONUS
Min Deposit
10
Acca Insurance
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
Yes
Live Streaming
Is there live streaming of sporting events?
No
In-Play Betting
The number of sports with in-play betting available
14
Bet Builder
Can you create your own personalised bets?
Yes
888 Sportsbook offers a massive selection of sports betting markets and sports to its customers. In an US expansion effort, the brand has teamed up with Sports Illustrated.
19+ | T&Cs apply | Please gamble responsibly | Begambleaware.org. This offer is not available for players residing in Ontario.
Long Established UK Bookmaker
Regular Bet Boosts
Use Bet Builder to Make Custom Bets
Promo Code
The code required to claim a sign-up bonus (if any)
not required
Min Deposit
10
Acca Insurance
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
No
Live Streaming
Is there live streaming of sporting events?
Yes
In-Play Betting
The number of sports with in-play betting available
33
Bet Builder
Can you create your own personalised bets?
Yes
BetVictor is named after founder Victor Chandler (known as the 'Gentleman Bookmaker') and they boast superstar jockey Rachael Blackmore, plus football legends Michael Owen and Harry Redknapp amongst their brand ambassadors and betting experts.
The code required to claim a sign-up bonus (if any)
not required
Min Deposit
10
Acca Insurance
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
No
Live Streaming
Is there live streaming of sporting events?
No
In-Play Betting
The number of sports with in-play betting available
34
Bet Builder
Can you create your own personalised bets?
Yes
Leo Vegas Sports is the sportsbook from this multi-award-winning casino operator, with a focus on mobile users - including a sport betting app for Android & iOS Devices.
The code required to claim a sign-up bonus (if any)
not required
Min Deposit
10
Acca Insurance
Refund or free bet when one selection in an accumulator lets the bet down
No
Live Streaming
Is there live streaming of sporting events?
No
In-Play Betting
The number of sports with in-play betting available
23
Bet Builder
Can you create your own personalised bets?
No
VIP Casino is a host to amazing selection of casino games. Additionally, those eager to place sports bet will find the brand offering plenty of sports betting options.
Sports betting in British Columbia and the rest of Canada was prohibited until 1985, when an amendment was made to the Canadian Criminal Code that allowed provincial lotteries to offer multi-leg bets, commonly known as parlay bets. That same year, BCLC (British Columbia Lottery Corporation was formed to regulate and manage the sports betting offering, as well as casino betting and lottery.
The first casino popped up finally in British Columbia in 1987, owned by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation. The Nanaimo Casino opened first, followed by the Red Lion Casino, Richmond Casino and Langley casino – all in the same year.
If you’re betting on sports in British Columbia, your only current legal option is through BCLC. You have two options when betting on sports: PlayNow or Sports Action. Sports Action is run through the BCLC lottery website, and PlayNow was launched in 2004 as an alternative online sports betting site from BCLC powered by GameSense.
GameSense was introduced in 2009 and the goal of the program was to help players make informed betting decisions. PlayNow offers sports betting, casino games, pools, poker, Bingo, live casino, instant wins, and even Keno.
In 2019-2020, over $1.3 billion dollars was generated by BCLC through gambling. This money was distributed into responsible gaming strategy, the local economic development, horse racing, gaming policy, host local government programs, First Nations revenue sharing, community gaming grants, provincial health, and more.
Legal Sports Betting in British Columbia
Since the passing of Bill C-218 in June 2021, single-game sports betting is legal in all Canadian provinces, but the provincial governments will be left to decide how the new sports betting legislation will be regulated and who will be allowed to obtain a license to operate in the province.
BCLC (British Columbia Lottery Corporation) have been in charge of all lottery, sports betting and casino activity since its inception in 1986 and will continue to do so with the new legislation.
Provinces like Ontario have created government entities like the AGCO that would be impartial and would be open to bringing in more operators without fears of jeopardizing their own revenue streams. In fact, from April 2022, Ontario sports betting sites launch and are regulated within the province. British Columbia will not be doing this, though it makes the most sense from a competitive standpoint.
What will British Columbia Sports Betting Look Like?
Even with Bill C-218 legalizing single-game sports betting in Canada, the landscape for sports betting in British Columbia won’t change much, as there are no concrete plans thus far to bring in any outside operators. BCLC intends to be the sole sports betting source in the province and will offer single-game wagering on their PlayNow site.
They wouldn’t have had to make many adjustments to accommodate single game wagering as they’ve been offering odds on games for years, just in a parlay format.
There is potential that operators will come to British Columbia in the future – many provinces are keeping a close eye on the Ontario sports betting model being implemented with unlimited opportunities for operators buying licenses and existing operators able to legitimize themselves in Ontario.
When Ontario’s revenue numbers are released for the first quarter, we expect other provinces to follow suit – the revenue potential with operators like DraftKings, FanDuel and Bet365 would be a huge boost to the British Columbia economy.
It is speculated that BCLC is trying to maintain the monopoly on the market as long as they can – if they don’t see a large increase in sign-ups on PlayNow in the coming months, maybe even the first quarter of 2022, they will likely begin planning to sell operator licenses to top online sportsbooks.
British Columbia borders three US states: Washington, Idaho and Montana. Washington has had sports betting legalized for the past few years, and recently signed off on sports betting within tribal casinos – which would be enticing for many BC residents – Vancouver and Victoria houses over 60% of the province’s population and is situated close to the U.S. border.
Idaho doesn’t have legal sports betting as of yet, and Montana has had legal sports betting in the state since 2019.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in British Columbia?
Yes, online sports betting is legal in British Columbia. Parlay betting has always been an option for the province through BCLC, and offshore sportsbooks have also been an option for those who wanted to bet singles.
Now that single-game sports betting has been legalized in Canada and that aspect has been added to the PlayNow product, so BC residents can finally bet on their favourite events like the Super Bowl or Stanley Cup Final. Furthermore, the Stanley Cup Final, a cornerstone event in hockey, has always been an eagerly anticipated period for sports betting. Now, with the broadened legal landscape, fans can delve into more intricate Stanley Cup betting scenarios.
Betting on BC Sports Teams
Vancouver is home to the professional sports teams in British Columbia, there isn’t a huge market for professional sports in any other city, and Vancouver has the capacity – especially since hosting the Olympics in 2010.
Vancouver Canucks
Since 1970, the Vancouver Canucks have been in the National Hockey League, and have managed to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals three times – 1982, 1994 and 2011. Their Stanley Cup runs have been heavily overshadowed by rioting after their losses, causing millions in damages to the city of Vancouver on the last two occasions.
The Canucks are the only NHL team in British Columbia, so the whole province tends to get behind them, unlike other provinces with two teams like Ontario or Alberta, that tend to be split.
BC Lions
The BC Lions have been a part of the Canadian Football League since 1954 and have six Grey Cup titles under their belts. The Lions have won in 1964, 1985, 1994, 2000, 2006, and 2011. The Lions are another team that play in Vancouver, conveniently located downtown.
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC
In 2011, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC joined the MLS as the 17th team in the league and garnered a huge fan base right away. The Whitecaps became the first Canadian MLS team to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, which they accomplished the following year in 2012. The team plays out of BC Place in Vancouver, in the same stadium as the BC Lions.
Horse Racing in British Columbia
Horse racing and gambling on horses has generated over $200 million each year in British Columbia. The racetracks and tele-theatres that broadcast international horse races via simulcast from around the world allow wagers to be placed on races like the Kentucky Derby and more. Over 75 per cent of the revenue generated by horse betting occurs on simulcast races.
The biggest horse racing event in British Columbia is the British Columbia Derby, a Canadian thoroughbred horse race held annually during the third week in September. The event takes place at Hastings Racecourse in Vancouver and is a 9-furlong race for three-year-old colts and fillies. The race has been run annually since 1946.
Racetracks in British Columbia
Name:
City:
On-site Horse Racing?
Desert Park Racetrack
Osoyoos
No
Sunflower Downs
Princeton
No
Fraser Downs Racetrack
Surrey, BC
Yes
Hastings Racecourse
Vancouver
Yes
Kin Park
Vernon
No
Casino Betting in British Columbia
British Columbia is home to 34 casinos throughout the province that offer slots, table games and more. 30 of the casinos are commercially owned:
Casino
City
Grand Villa Casino
Burnaby, BC
Elements Casino
Chilliwack, BC
Hard Rock Casino Vancouver
Coquitlam, BC
Cascades Casino
Kamloops, BC
Playtime Casino
Kelowna, BC
Cascades Casino
Langley, BC
Great Canadian Casino
Nanaimo, BC
Starlight Casino
New Westminster, BC
Cascades Casino
Penticton, BC
Billy Barker Casino Hotel
Quesnel, BC
Treasure Cove Casino Hotel
Prince George, BC
Billy Barker Casino Hotel
Quesnel, BC
River Rock Casino Resort
Richmond, BC
Elements Casino
Surrey, BC
Parq Vancouver
Vancouver, BC
Hastings Racecourse
Vancouver, BC
Lake City Casino
Vernon, BC
Elements Casino Victoria
View Royal, BC
There are four First Nations casinos located in British Columbia, owned by several different Indigenous tribes in the province.
Casino
City
Casino of the Rockies is owned by the Ktunaxa Nation, Chippewas of Rama First Nation and the Samson Cree Nation
Cranbrook, BC
Chances Cowichan is owned by the Cowichan Tribes
Duncan, BC
Chances Salmon Arm located on land owned by the Adams Lake Indian Band
Yes, sports betting has been legal in British Columbia since 1985, but has been limited to parlay betting until August 27, 2021. Single-event sports betting launched and we can now bet on single games in B.C.
What is the minimum legal age to gamble in BC?
The age of majority in British Columbia is 19 years old..You can bet on sports, casino, horses, and slots once you turn 19 years of age. This is higher than other provinces – especially where next door in Alberta the age of majority is 18 years old.
How many casinos are in British Columbia?
There are 34 casinos in British Columbia, 30 commercial casinos, and four First Nations casinos. The province also only has two racetrack locations that offer horse racing betting and simulcast betting.
Is single-game sports betting legal in BC?
Yes, single-game sports betting was legalized in June 2021, and launched in August 2021 in British Columbia. We can now bet on single events like the Super Bowl or Stanley Cup Finals in B.C. through BCLC's PlayNow.
Where can I bet on sports in BC?
You can bet on sports at any BCLC kiosk or online through their PlayNow product. There are also online sportsbooks you can sign up for that can offer you hefty bonuses and more selection if you choose to bet online.