Seven Things to Know About British Columbia Sports Betting

British Columbia is one of Canada's economic and cultural centers, a major province with millions of residents. These residents are rabid sports fans, and naturally, many are interested in sports betting.

However, like many locations across Canada, there is a lot to know about the sports betting situation. There has been a lot of confusion about sportsbooks in Canada and the legality of gambling in general. Below, we'll help clear up some of the confusion. We'll give you a quick rundown of some of the key things to know about wagering in British Columbia.

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1. The Gray Market

A big part of the British Columbia sports betting industry exists in the gray market. The gray market is somewhere between legal and not, which is how the betting industry has been in most Canadian provinces. The government won't punish users or sportsbooks for accepting British Columbia-based users, but they don't expressly endorse operators. However, this means that offshore sportsbooks, which are licensed outside of Canada, are allowed to thrive here. This is where most people who gamble in British Columbia tend to wager. There are many top-notch sportsbooks licensed outside Canada that will serve bettors.
 

2. The Ontario Changes

While British Columbia is in this situation, Ontario has shifted. They are now licensing a vast number of sportsbooks within the province. While this doesn’t directly impact users in British Columbia, it could be a sign of things to come. Ontario licenses major operators now, ranging from Bet365 and BetMGM to FanDuel and more. They also allow sportsbooks to advertise to their citizens. This has been a major change in the province that is only a few years old, and many across the country are waiting for other provinces to follow. Could B.C. be next?
 

3. Provincial Lotto Gambling

While the British Columbia government does not regulate other sportsbooks, they do have one of their own. British Columbia offers users PlayNow, a provincially controlled operator that is run by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Once Bill C-218 was passed in 2021, PlayNow began to take single-game sports bets, whereas before, they only took parlays. This was a major shift that served bettors well, as they now have more gambling options. Bill C-218 federally decriminalized sports betting in Canada, which was a huge change. It is a taxed sportsbook that bettors across the province enjoy.
 

4. Popular Sports Teams

British Columbia residents are wildly passionate about their sports teams, and there are several main sports teams that fans tend to pull for in the province. The Vancouver Canucks, who are looking ahead to an exciting year after a massive last season, are the province’s pride and joy. They are an NHL team who look to be on the cusp of competing for a Stanley Cup. Outside of the NHL, fans in British Columbia cheer for the B.C. Lions in the CFL and Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS, as well as the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL and Toronto Raptors in the NBA.
 

5. Benefits of Changes

There are many across British Columbia who have seen the massive changes in Ontario and want something similar in the province. So, what would the benefits of a sports betting shift be? In Ontario, in just a few years, the sports betting industry has generated billions of dollars of revenue. Instead of the money and jobs going to locations outside of Canada, British Columbia residents could benefit. This would be taxable money that could go back to the people of the province. There is also the upside that government-regulated operators tend to be safer.
 

6. Restricted Operators

While many would call for these kinds of changes, they have yet to occur. British Columbia remains a province where the only locally regulated operator is PlayNow. So that means that there are many sportsbooks that are off-limits in the province. Several sportsbooks won't accept users from the province because they have not reached deals with the local government. So, that means that some operators that are legal in Ontario are not yet legal in B.C. Some of these operators include major names like BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, PointsBet, and more. This might be a tough pill to swallow for some B.C. betting enthusiasts.
 

7. Future Shifts?

It is important to note that just because things are this way now doesn't mean they will be forever. The Canadian gambling industry has seen a ton of changes over the past few years, and there is no reason to think that more changes can't occur. There is a very real chance that British Columbia will be one of the next provinces to follow in Ontario's footsteps and lean into the full potential of what Bill C-218 opened up. If the provincial government decides the benefits outweigh the risks, expect a major transition for the gambling industry in the province.

I (AKA CatBurg) have a lifelong passion for sports, especially football and basketball. I enjoy the thrill and excitement of sports betting and everything in between. My teams are (Packers #GoPackGo) and who I am betting on!