Gaming Standards and Guidelines

As part of its commitment to ensure gambling activities are carried out in a socially responsible manner, the Province of British Columbia has established Advertising and Marketing Standards for the BC gambling industry. Click here to view these Standards.

Further, the BC government:

• Prohibits minors under the age of 19 from participating in commercial gaming activities.
• Restricts electronic gaming equipment to specific gaming facilities, where adults make a conscious decision to gamble.
• Determines the number of gaming facilities (casinos, bingo halls, horse race tracks and teletheatres operating in the province.
• Does not allow video lottery terminals (VLTs) in bars and pubs.
• Requires that casinos and bingo halls have a "self-exclusion" program, where anyone with a gambling problem can ask to be barred from gaming facilities for a specific period.
• Distributes brochures and stickers informing the public of the Responsible Gambling Program and toll-free Helpline number to all gaming facilities and lottery outlets.
• Introduced the toll-free help line phone number onto lottery products, in conjunction with the BC Lottery Corporation.
• Requires that casino operators and bingo hall service providers comply with all operating standards set by the Province, including facility standards, customer service and employee training standards, and internal control and security standards.
• Requires that all gaming service providers, employees and suppliers register with the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch. People working in the gaming industry must satisfy high standards of honesty, integrity, financial responsibility and act in accordance with the law and in the public interest.