Online gambling in British Columbia continues to be run by a sole operator. PlayNow, which is operated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), is the province’s only legal online gambling platform.
According to Finance Minister Brenda Bailey, BCLC estimates that PlayNow accounts for 51% of online gambling in B.C., leaving about 49% outside the provincial legal platform. This split market is sending a message to the crown corporation. It suggests that many players already behave as if they have a wider market (even if the laws have not changed yet).
Revenue Risk Moves Into View
The scale of the leakage is also visible. BCLC estimates unregulated online gambling activity in B.C. at roughly C$441 million a year, compared with about C$454 million through PlayNow.
In terms of provincial revenue, money spent on websites other than PlayNow does not flow back through BCLC net income. In addition, it would not be subject to any of B.C.’s local controls related to player protection and gambling safety.
BCLC’s current service plan also points to pressure from Ontario-licensed brands. It says national advertising for those operators can push players outside Ontario toward related sites that are not regulated in B.C.
PlayNow Upgrade Becomes a Test
The initial response is not legislative. According to Bailey, B.C. is preparing a new PlayNow product for the fall. BCLC’s service plan also lists a new iGaming platform, better user experience, stronger promotional tools, a new iCasino app, and sportsbook upgrades among its priorities.
The fall update will therefore be judged by whether it can narrow the product gap between PlayNow and outside operators. If it fails, even the current 51% share may be hard to defend.
Alberta Adds Regional Pressure
Alberta is set to launch a regulated online gambling and sports betting market open to private operators on July 13, 2026. It will become the second Canadian province after Ontario to use that model.
This may make the contrast with B.C. sharper for both players and operators. In Ontario, the latest Ipsos study found that 91.1% of online players were choosing legal sites.
Bottom Line
B.C.’s problem is no longer theoretical. The province now has a number attached to the leakage. PlayNow’s fall upgrade may help, especially in sports betting. Yet the wider question is structural: whether a single public platform can hold players when neighbouring markets and national sports broadcasts expose them to a broader range of brands.
