# British Columbia: the public platform, the regulator and your options > Online sports betting in British Columbia runs through PlayNow, operated by BCLC. IGCO regulates since 2026-04-13, the age is 19+, and the help line is 1-888-795-6111. Source: https://reviewstandings.com/sports-betting-british-columbia/ Updated: 2026-11-13 In British Columbia, legal online sports betting runs through PlayNow, the platform operated by BCLC. The Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO) regulates gambling since 2026-04-13. The minimum age is 19. There is no registry of private operators. For help, call Gambling Support BC on 1-888-795-6111, available at any hour of the day or night. ## British Columbia at a glance **British Columbia (BC): operator, regulator, age and help · sources: Government of BC release of 2025-12-02, PlayNow help and payment pages · read 2026-11-06, shown as of 2026-11-13** | Item | What the sources show | |---|---| | Online platform | PlayNow, operated by BCLC | | Regulator | IGCO, from 2026-04-13 | | Private operator registry | None | | Minimum age | 19+ | | Self-exclusion | Documented on PlayNow | | Help | Gambling Support BC, 1-888-795-6111, 24/7 | **Bottom line:** in British Columbia the lawful option is the provincial platform, and the question of a registry does not arise. ## What your options are The legal frame comes from the Criminal Code, section 207, as read with the 2021 single-event change. Provinces run or license betting. BC runs it through BCLC. See [the page on section 207](https://reviewstandings.com/criminal-code-section-207-and-c218/). Our review of the platform is on [the PlayNow page](https://reviewstandings.com/playnow-review/). The official PlayNow payment page lists Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Interac e-Transfer, PayPal, Online Bill Payment and Web Cash. **Bottom line:** PlayNow is the one provincial platform; the details of its documents are on its review page. ## Sites that are not PlayNow Many sites accept players from British Columbia without any provincial authorization. A licence from another place, including a Kahnawà:ke licence, does not replace a provincial one. We do not name, rank or link such sites. What a player gives up is set out on [the unregistered sportsbook page](https://reviewstandings.com/offshore-sportsbooks-risks-canada/). Whether naming such brands is allowed is a legal question that is still open. **Bottom line:** a site with no provincial authorization is outside the system this page describes. ## The regulator change The provincial government announced the change on 2025-12-02, and IGCO took over on 2026-04-13. The former body, GPEB, is not treated here as a current regulator. The background is on [the IGCO page](https://reviewstandings.com/bc-igco-replaces-gpeb-2026-04-13/). Gambling involves risk. Play responsibly. 19+ in British Columbia. Help lines for every province are on [the responsible gambling page](https://reviewstandings.com/responsible-gambling/). ## What is not confirmed - Limits and fees on PlayNow payments: not published here. - Registration or licence details of PlayNow itself: BCLC is its operator, and no registry applies. - Rules for other provinces: see [the province rules page](https://reviewstandings.com/betting-rules-by-province/). ## How we check 1. Read the Government of BC release and the PlayNow help and payment pages on a stated date. 2. Record the regulator, the age and the help line with the page address. 3. Re-check each quarter; the help line is checked against the official page. ## Sources - Government of British Columbia, release of 2025-12-02, on IGCO. - PlayNow help and payment pages, read 2026-11-06. - Justice Laws, Criminal Code, section 207. - Gambling Support BC, help line page. ## What changed - 2026-11-13: first version. ## FAQ **Is online sports betting legal in British Columbia?** Yes, through PlayNow, the platform operated by BCLC. The Criminal Code allows betting schemes only when a province runs them or licenses them. BC has no registry of private operators. **Who regulates gambling in British Columbia?** The Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO) since 2026-04-13, according to the provincial government's announcement of 2025-12-02. BCLC operates PlayNow. This site does not treat GPEB as a current regulator. **What is the minimum age?** 19 in British Columbia. The age is stated on the government pages and on PlayNow. **Where can I get help in British Columbia?** Gambling Support BC, 1-888-795-6111, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. PlayNow's help page also documents self-exclusion. **What about sports betting sites that are not PlayNow?** They are not run or licensed by the province, so they sit outside the legal system described here. We do not name or link them. See the page on what you give up with an unregistered sportsbook.