Single-game sports betting became legal on August 27, 2021, less than a couple of months after the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act became active. This is the law that legalizes single-game sports betting in Canada.
What sounds like a minor change is actually a revolutionary act for the gambling and betting industry in Canada, more particularly seven of its provinces, one of which happens to be British Columbia.
The changes that allowed for single-game sports betting to become legal in these provinces included the amendment of the Criminal Code in Canada. The important Bill C-218 amended a specific section of the Code, thus allowing sports betting to not be prohibited anymore.
The rest of the provinces have adapted slower after these changes were made, but British Columbia was quick enough to offer all the impatient sports fans a way to bet on their preferred sports and events right away. The popular PlayNow Sportsbook launched in 2004 is owned and created by the BCLC (British Columbia Lottery Corporation). It’s an online sportsbook platform that has expanded rapidly since its inception.
Sports betting at a glance
It’s hardly a surprise that sports betting is as popular as it is in British Columbia. With a population of more than five million people, the sports betting market in this province is huge, and it grows at a steady pace, too. Online sports betting and the opportunities it brings certainly helps with that.
The revenue generated by BCLC surpasses the whopping amount of $1,3 billion CAD, which is nearly half of the revenue in the whole of Canada, and sports betting has contributed to that amount significantly. This speaks of the importance and scale of British Columbia’s betting and gambling market.
The legal age required for sports betting activities is the same as the rest of Canada – you need to be at least 19 years old to engage in such activities.
How we rate British Columbia’s sportsbooks
To distinguish the best sports betting platforms in B.C. and rate them, a list of important criteria to evaluate them is needed. Here’s the simple approach we use when we compare the sportsbooks available in B.C.
– Available bonuses and promo offers: The better and better the bonuses and the rewards are, the better the user experience will be. Sometimes, however, the biggest rewards in terms of value are not the best ones
– Available payment options and payout duration: The time needed for depositing and withdrawing funds is an important factor to consider
– Reliability and security: For online sports betting sites, the level of trustworthiness and the data protection they offer are essential
– Customer support quality: Being able to rely on quick and adequate customer support is key for the ultimate client experience
– Functionalities and features: For a superb user experience, a sportsbook platform should offer a wide variety of perks, such as in-play betting options and live streaming
Is sports betting legal in British Columbia?
Sports betting has been a legal activity in British Columbia for more than one and a half years. All sports betting activities are monitored by the BCLC. This is the same institution that has been in charge of overseeing all betting services in the province for the last 40 years. While parlay bets have been regulated in B.C. since the mid-80s, online betting became accessible only in 2004 when the PlayNow platform was launched.
British Columbia sports betting updates
British Columbia’s sports betting scene hasn’t seen much development until 2021, but the important Bill C-218 did not happen overnight. It was preceded by lots of important actions and decisions that eventually resulted in this amendment.
Sports fans and savvy bettors from B.C. can place bets on several sports and leagues, both online and offline, including the NHL, NFL, CFL, MLB, NBA, and more. This is possible thanks to the pivotal moments described in the timeline below.
2023
- April 6: BCLC signed a contract with Intralot. The latter pledges to deliver thousands of terminals and kiosks to B.C. by the end of the year.
2022
- June 6: BCLC and SIGA (the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority) teamed up to introduce the PlayNow online betting platform to users in Saskatchewan.
2021
- August 27: The opportunity for single-game online betting via the PlayNow platform was announced by the BCLC, which happened 15 days after it was announced that Bill C-218 will become effective on that day.
- June 29: This was the day when Bill C-218 officially legalised single-game sports betting, which happened a week after this amendment was approved by the Senate.
- February 25: The Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act is introduced for the first time, and it’s approved by the House of Commons less than two months after that.
Who can bet on sports in B.C.?
Those individuals in British Columbia who wish to engage in sports betting activities must be 19 years of age or older. They can use the online PlayNow platform to do so or opt for a BCLC retailer to deposit a physical bet.
Except for the minimum required age of every bettor, there are other terms and conditions that you need to know before you indulge in sports betting. The most important among them are related to the current location and mobile betting requirements. To be able to place an online single-game sports bet, a user needs to use a mobile device or a stationary computer from a location within the borders of British Columbia. The BCLC has designed a set of strict regulations on this matter. Only residents of this province can legally bet on sports.
B.C. locals are the only ones who can use the features and services offered by the PlayNow online platform. They are allowed to register an account from anywhere within British Columbia. An important distinction needs to be made between online and physical bets. The former do not require a confirmation via a retail location of BCLC.
The pros and cons of B.C. sports betting
British Columbia has proven to be the one province that did the impossible to offer single-game sports betting services to all interested individuals on the very day when this type of activity became officially legal for everyone in B.C.
Having the above in mind, it’s not hard to list all the pros of legalising such activities. There are still things to be done that can be referred to as cons at the moment, such as the fact that PlayNow Sports and Sports Action (for online and offline bets, respectively) are the options local bettors can use to wager. Considering that this rapidly developing sector will transform in the next years, this is bound to change for the better.
Pros of B.C. sports betting
- Single-game sports betting has been legal for nearly two years: The fact that this type of activity is not prohibited since August 2021 is the biggest win for this industry in B.C.
- Mobile betting options are available: Using the PlayNow portal, users can bet on their favorite sports and teams from any location within B.C.
- Physical bets can be made at any Sports Action location (all of which are run by the BCLC).
Cons of B.C. sports betting
- It’s unclear if more online sportsbooks will be licenced in the near future: This is an important aspect related to the growth of this sector, and there are uncertainties related to it.
- The geolocation technology used to determine users’ location could pose difficulties with creating new accounts: Some users in border areas might have issues with denied access to the sign-up process.
- The available sports betting options are reserved for local users: Currently, only those residing in B.C. can legally place bets on sports.
How to start betting in British Columbia
Engaging in single-game sports betting in B.C. is easy, as long as you meet the few, but important requirements to have access to all related platforms and services. Once all that is covered, there are a few simple steps to take when you’re ready to get started:
- Pick a sportsbook to join: It might sound strange to start with this, considering there isn’t a variety to choose from, but it’s actually an important step. There are offshore online platforms that offer alternative betting options, so making the right choice of platform from the get-go is crucial.
- Create an account: You must always register an account before being able to proceed with depositing funds and placing bets.
- Check for bonuses and welcome rewards: The availability of welcome bonuses is always beneficial for you, because you can grab a variety of rewards for creating an account. The promotions always vary, and they are extremely generous sometimes.
- Make your first deposit: Once your new account is ready, you need to deposit the minimum required amount (or higher), using the payment option that works best for you.
- Select your preferred bet type and start betting: Single-game wagers are the popular option that’s currently legal to take advantage of in B.C., which includes parlays, moneylines, totals, props, and so forth. The offshore online platforms offer the variety most users would seek. Once you find the betting option you want, the time to place a bet would come.
- Get your winnings: If you happen to place a winning bet, there will be a reward that will come your way alongside the excitement you’d experience. To withdraw your reward, you need to choose a reliable and fast payment option. Sometimes, processing these payments requires days to complete.
What else can you bet on in B.C.?
People love betting on all sorts of events that they think they can predict the outcome of. They are drawn by the excitement of having the chance to guess a rating or a result. This is why there are other forms of betting, not just sports betting.
For example, there are a couple of alternative categories that offer a rising number of betting options. Those include:
- eSports: What’s already a worldwide phenomenon is available in B.C. as well, so it’s only natural that fans are allowed to bet on tournaments and individual events from the eSports scene. This is a sector that will surely rise in popularity
- Public events such as ceremonies and contests: This is surely not a surprise to many, but there are betting options that allow you to wager money on the probable winner of every category during the Oscars, for example
Legal sportsbooks in British Columbia
When choosing a platform to join, you are strongly advised to pick only regulated and trusted ones. At the moment, the choice comes down to PlayNow. This is the only way to guarantee transparency and safety thanks to the platform’s legal status.
In fact, the BCLC has one very clear objective: to offer the kind of environment for users that both safe and rich in betting options and that will benefit the local economy. Being able to earn more and stimulate B.C. while allowing everyone to safely bet on their favorite sports.
Some of the rest of the available sportsbooks you could currently join include but are not limited to:
- BetVictor
- Sports Interaction
- TonyBet
- Bet365
- BetRegal
Home team advantage: B.C. sports
Needless to say, bettors in British Columbia prefer local teams and leagues. The NFL steals the prize when it comes to popular sports betting markets, but other leagues do not fall far behind. The NHL, CFL, NBA, NFL, MLB, and plenty of other markets enjoy a lot of interest from local players. The home team advantage would always be a factor when it comes to sports betting in British Columbia.
Responsible gaming in British Columbia
Some of the grey-market sports betting websites B.C. residents often opt for pose risks, as mentioned above. But even when choosing the most trusted solution, PlayNow, there is still a risk of developing an addiction or too much spending. This is why raising awareness of responsible gaming is a must.
The PlayNow platform uses a special system designed by experts that allow users to contact a specialist when they need to talk to someone about a gambling-related problem. Being able to seek and find support is key when it comes to betting and gambling.
Provincial betting guides
Keep in mind that every Canadian province has a different set of rules and laws when it comes to betting and gambling. They might be regulated at the same time and under similar laws, but there could be key differences that you must consider at all costs. This is why you need to check different provincial betting guides for each province that you’re interested in. Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the rest of the provinces that currently allow some forms of betting and gambling have different requirements and rules you should follow.
Sportsbooks to avoid in British Columbia
There will be an increase in the variety of sports betting sites for sure. The growing demand for such services will inevitably lead to a greater number of options to choose from when it comes to online platforms. Not all of them would be worthy of your attention, though.
To avoid the ones that would be a waste of time, or even worse – a threat to your personal and banking details, you need to stay away from shady online betting platforms. Here’s how to distinguish them from the ones that are trustworthy:
- Check for licenses and legislation certificates: If there is no information about proper licenses on their website, the online platform you chose is likely to be unregulated.
- Search for information related to withdrawals and deposits: If you see that there isn’t a specific list of payment options you could choose from or you find user reviews that mention slow withdrawal process, then it’s not a good idea to join.
- The search mentioned above should also include the quality of customer service: If it’s poor, then you’re better off choosing a different website.
- Some platforms, such as CR Sports Bet, are reportedly accused of slow payments or even non-payments, which is a good enough reason to never consider creating an account there.
If multiple users have left a negative review about the same website, then it’s definitely not worth learning a lesson the hard way. Trusting the feedback of those who have already been part of a certain platform and have reported its pros and cons is essential. It’s the only way to avoid disappointment and even fraud.
