Gambling in Vancouver is legal and run by the province of British Columbia. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) runs casino gaming, the lottery and the PlayNow.com online site, and since April 13, 2026 the industry has been overseen by a new regulator, the Independent Gambling Control Office. The main casino in the city is Parq Casino downtown, and the casino at Hastings Racecourse is still open even though live horse racing there ended in December 2025.
Vancouver gambling at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who runs gambling | British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) |
| Regulator | Independent Gambling Control Office (replaced the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch in April 2026) |
| Main law | Gaming Control Act, in force since April 13, 2026 |
| Minimum age | 19 |
| Main casino | Parq Casino, downtown Vancouver |
| Other casino in the city | Hastings casino at Hastings Park (live racing ended December 2025) |
| Online gambling | PlayNow.com, run by BCLC |
| Sports betting | Single-game and parlay bets on PlayNow.com and in BCLC venues |
| Last checked | November 2026 |
How gambling is regulated in British Columbia
Canada’s Criminal Code leaves gambling to the provinces. In British Columbia, BCLC conducts and manages casinos, the lottery and online gambling, and private companies operate the casinos on its behalf.
The rules changed on April 13, 2026, when the Gaming Control Act passed in 2022 came into force. It replaced the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch with the Independent Gambling Control Office, which oversees BCLC’s gambling, charitable gaming and horse racing. The new act gives the regulator power to issue directives to BCLC and requires new measures against money laundering in casinos and online. It draws on the Cullen Commission inquiry into money laundering in the province.
Casinos in Vancouver
Parq Casino
Parq Casino is the city’s main casino, in downtown Vancouver. It opened in September 2017 as Parq Vancouver, replacing the Edgewater Casino at the old Plaza of Nations site, and the project cost an estimated $640 million. It was renamed Parq Casino in December 2024 to put the focus on its gaming floor.
- Gaming floor: about 72,000 square feet over two floors, with around 75 table games, a poker room and VIP areas.
- Slots: Vancouver approved an expansion in February 2026 that raises the limit from 600 to 900 slot machines.
- Sports betting: one of BCLC’s first ProLine Sportsbook Lounges opened here in 2025.
- Hotels: two Marriott hotels with 517 rooms combined, the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver and The Douglas.
Hastings casino
The casino at Hastings Racecourse, in Hastings Park on the city’s east side, is run by Great Canadian Entertainment and has stayed open since racing ended. Great Canadian has agreed to sell the casino business to the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, following a memorandum of understanding in June 2025 and a definitive agreement in November 2025. The sale needs approval from gaming regulators and the City of Vancouver, which owns the land, before it can close.
Edgewater Casino
The Edgewater Casino closed when Parq opened, and its staff moved to the new casino. If you see it listed elsewhere, that listing is out of date.
Horse racing
Hastings Racecourse held thoroughbred races from 1889 until December 5, 2025, when its operator announced the end of live racing, calling it a business decision. The province had told horse racing groups that the share of slot revenue that supported racing would end in January 2026. The simulcast racebook at Hastings, where you can bet on races run elsewhere, was not affected.
The site’s future is still being decided. In December 2025, the city gave provisional approval to plans for a new soccer stadium at Hastings Park for the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Online gambling and sports betting
PlayNow.com, run by BCLC, is the only legal online gambling site in British Columbia. It started in 2004 selling lottery tickets, added casino games in 2010, and now also offers sports betting. The same platform serves players in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Single-game sports betting became legal in Canada in 2021, when Parliament passed Bill C-218, and PlayNow now offers single bets as well as parlays. In person, BCLC sports betting is available at venues such as the ProLine Sportsbook Lounge at Parq.
Offshore betting and casino sites that advertise to Canadians are not run or overseen by BCLC or the provincial regulator, so BC’s player protection rules do not apply to them.
Lottery
BCLC runs British Columbia’s lottery. Tickets are sold at retail stores across the province and online through PlayNow.com.
More Canada gambling guides
For the rules in other provinces, see our Canada casinos and gambling guide and our Toronto gambling guide.
Vancouver gambling FAQ
What is the gambling age in Vancouver?
You must be 19 or older to gamble in British Columbia, at casinos, on PlayNow.com and for lottery tickets.
How many casinos are there in Vancouver?
Two within the city limits: Parq Casino downtown and the Hastings casino at Hastings Park. Other BCLC casinos operate in surrounding Metro Vancouver cities.
Is online gambling legal in British Columbia?
Yes, through PlayNow.com, which BCLC runs. It offers casino games, lottery and sports betting.
Is Hastings Racecourse still open?
The casino and simulcast betting are open, but live horse racing ended in December 2025.
Gamble responsibly. In British Columbia, the province’s Gambling Support BC program offers free help, and in the US you can call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.