British Columbia Lottery

British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is a Crown corporation of the Government of British Columbia, Canada, established in 1985. Headquartered in Kamloops, BC with offices in Vancouver, BCLC is the exclusive provider of lottery, casino, and online gambling services in British Columbia. The corporation generated C$2.14 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2023/24 and employs approximately 1,000+ people.

BCLC operates three primary business lines: Lottery (draw games like Lotto Max, Lotto 6/49, BC/49, and scratch tickets sold through 3,500+ retail locations), Casino & Community Gaming (18 commercial casinos and community gaming centres across BC, including Playtime Casino Kamloops and Penticton, and Chances community gaming centres), and Online Gambling (PlayNow.com — Canada's first and only government-owned online gambling platform, offering casino games, sports betting, poker, and live dealer).

As a Crown corporation, BCLC's net income is returned to the Province of British Columbia to support healthcare, education, community programs, and charitable causes. In FY 2023/24, BCLC contributed approximately C$1.4 billion to the provincial government. BCLC is regulated by the BC Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB) and is recognized as a Tier-2 operator in the North American gaming landscape.

PlayNow.com — Canada's Government-Owned Online Platform

PlayNow.com is BCLC's online gambling platform and the first government-owned and regulated online gambling site in North America, launched in 2004. It offers online casino games (slots, table games), sports betting (PlayNow Sports), poker (PlayNow Poker), live dealer games, and lottery ticket purchasing. PlayNow is available exclusively to BC residents (with geolocation verification) and is the only legal online gambling platform operated within the province. The platform features games from Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, and other leading suppliers.

Lottery Operations

BCLC operates lottery games across British Columbia through 3,500+ retail locations, including convenience stores, gas stations, and dedicated lottery retailers. Products include national draw games (Lotto Max, Lotto 6/49, Daily Grand) shared with other Canadian provinces, provincial games (BC/49, Keno, Extra), and instant scratch-and-win tickets. BCLC also operates online lottery sales through PlayNow.com.

Casino & Community Gaming

BCLC oversees 18 commercial casinos and community gaming centres across British Columbia. These include full-service casinos like Playtime Casino Kamloops and Playtime Casino Penticton, as well as Chances community gaming centres in smaller communities. BCLC provides the gaming products and oversight, while private service providers operate the venues. The casinos offer slots, table games, poker rooms, and dining facilities.

PlayNow Sports

BCLC was the first Canadian lottery to launch online sports betting in 2012, well before single-event sports betting was legalized nationally in 2021. Following the legalization of single-event sports betting (Bill C-218, August 2021), BCLC expanded PlayNow Sports to offer single-event wagering on professional and collegiate sports, competing with private operators like DraftKings and FanDuel who entered the BC market.

GameSense — Responsible Gambling Pioneer

BCLC pioneered the GameSense responsible gambling program, which has become the industry standard across Canadian lotteries and has been adopted internationally. GameSense provides players with tools, information, and support to make informed decisions about their gambling, including self-assessment quizzes, budget setting, self-exclusion, and direct access to support resources.

1985 — BCLC Established

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation was established in 1985 as a Crown corporation of the Government of British Columbia, taking over lottery operations from the BC Lottery Commission. The corporation was created to conduct, manage, and operate lottery schemes and casino gaming on behalf of the province.

1990s — Casino Expansion

BCLC expanded its casino operations throughout the 1990s, establishing commercial casinos and community gaming centres across British Columbia. The corporation introduced new lottery products and expanded its retail network to over 3,500 locations.

2004 — PlayNow.com Launch

BCLC launched PlayNow.com, becoming the first government-owned and regulated online gambling platform in North America. The site initially offered lottery ticket sales and gradually expanded to include online casino games, poker, and sports betting.

2012 — First Canadian Online Sports Betting

BCLC became the first Canadian lottery corporation to offer online sports betting through PlayNow.com, initially limited to parlay-style wagers. This positioned BCLC as a pioneer in regulated Canadian sports betting.

2015 — GameSense Launch

BCLC launched the GameSense responsible gambling program, a comprehensive player education and support initiative. GameSense was later adopted by other Canadian lottery corporations and has become an industry standard, with GameSense advisors stationed at casinos and available online.

2017 — Security Incident & Recovery

In 2017, BCLC faced a significant AML (anti-money laundering) investigation related to concerns about cash transactions at BC casinos (the "Dirty Money" report by Peter German). BCLC implemented enhanced AML controls, compliance measures, and player verification procedures in response.

2021 — Single-Event Sports Betting

Following the federal legalization of single-event sports betting (Bill C-218, August 2021), BCLC expanded PlayNow Sports to offer single-event wagering on professional and collegiate sports. This positioned PlayNow to compete with private sportsbooks entering the Canadian market.

2023–2024 — Revenue Growth & Modernization

BCLC reported C$2.14 billion in revenue for FY 2023/24, contributing approximately C$1.4 billion to the Province of British Columbia. The corporation continued to modernize PlayNow.com, expand its game offerings, and enhance responsible gambling features under the GameSense program.

BCLC is a pioneer in responsible gambling, having developed the GameSense program that has become the industry standard across Canadian lotteries and internationally:

• GameSense Program — BCLC's flagship responsible gambling initiative, launched in 2015. GameSense provides players with information, tools, and support to make informed decisions. GameSense advisors are stationed at BC casinos and available through PlayNow.com, offering personalized support and resources.
• Voluntary Self-Exclusion (VSE) Program — BCLC operates a comprehensive self-exclusion program allowing players to voluntarily ban themselves from all BC casinos, community gaming centres, and PlayNow.com for periods ranging from 6 months to indefinite. The program includes support services and counseling referrals.
• PlayNow Responsible Gambling Tools — Online players have access to deposit limits, spending limits, session time limits, reality checks, cooling-off periods, self-assessment quizzes, and detailed play history dashboards.
• GameSense Info Centres — Interactive information centres located at BC casinos and community gaming centres, providing players with responsible gambling resources, odds information, and direct access to support.
• Problem Gambling Help Line — BCLC funds and promotes the BC Problem Gambling Help Line (1-888-795-6111), providing 24/7 confidential support, counseling referrals, and treatment resources.
• AML & Compliance — Following the 2017 "Dirty Money" report, BCLC implemented enhanced anti-money laundering controls, including cash transaction reporting, source-of-funds verification for large transactions, and enhanced player identification procedures.
• Underage Gambling Prevention — Strict age verification (19+ in BC) across all channels, including ID checks at retail lottery locations, casinos, and digital verification for PlayNow.com.

Players experiencing gambling-related harm can contact the BC Problem Gambling Help Line at 1-888-795-6111 or visit GameSense.com for resources and support.