On average, 60% of Canadians claim to have participated in real money gambling in some form or another in the previous four weeks. However, that figure rises to 72.5% when looking specifically at British Columbians and one in five of them believe that they will win big.
The market is estimated to be worth $3.7 billion. There are 267 gambling-related businesses in the province which employ almost 9,000 people. A study from 2019 found that lottery tickets are the most popular form of gambling, with online card games and horse betting being less popular. However, online casino games are increasingly attractive, and the slots are a destination entertainment choice for many iGamers.
Fortunately, it is not illegal, and the province takes the security and safety of its residents very seriously. Several pieces of legislation have been enacted to guarantee that online gambling is well-regulated in the province. The laws governing the operation of sportsbooks and casinos in the province include the Gaming Control Act and the Gaming Control Regulation. Additionally, review sites like Casino.org help guide players by highlighting the best—and cautioning against the worst—sites accessible from the province.
Hannah Cutajar, head of Casino.org explains, "Both casino gambling and sports betting are currently legal in British Columbia. While online sports betting is currently limited to one site, which is owned and operated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), there are a range of regulated B.C. online casinos available.
"All of the casinos we recommend for people gambling in B.C. are fully compliant and up to date with all legal requirements in the province. The BCLC created its own casino online, PlayNow. This is the only licensed casino in B.C.
"These are regulated by the likes of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority, which ensures fairness and security. By playing at these sites, iGamers can enjoy a wider range of games, potentially higher payout rates and more. This means that British Columbians have access to some of the best iGaming sites on the internet."
She goes on to warn people that there are also some untrustworthy offshore sites which are either downright scams and money laundering fronts or just inadequate. While these can mostly be spotted by the lack of any credible license or recognised payment partners, some clever scammers go out of their way to deceive iGamers by creating clone sites and copying logos and typefaces. For this reason, Casino.org has a list of sites to avoid and is not afraid to call out bad operators.
Casino.org's expert reviewers are a trusted resource for navigating the world of online casino in B.C. They do all the hard work behind the scenes with their 25 point review process, players can find the perfect site for them.
Cutajar says, "We pride ourselves on finding the very best on offer and then letting players know what makes a site move up in the rankings. Our team of gambling experts that focus on Canadian sites have tried and tested all the options. We are fully independent and do our own research to ensure the sites are good.
"Some affiliate marketing companies and influencers may take the referents' money and write nice things about an online casino to drive players to a site. That is not how we do things at Casino.org. We fully road test the whole site from security to customer services, from bonuses to games on offer and from the mobile gaming experience to payment options; we leave no stone unturned.
"What players get is a data-driven assessment where each online casino is compared on a like-for-like basis. This allows the best casinos to shine and for players to be able to have trust that they are comparing apples with apples. Our reviewers always add their own personal, subjective views as well, but the rankings are as a result of objectively gathered data,” Cutajar adds.
Casino.org has been conducting these reviews for decades and has witnessed some fantastic innovations in casino software and incredible improvements in connectivity and hardware options. When they started out, online gaming was the reserve of desktop PCs and laptops. Now, there are accessible mobile and smartphone apps, and the way in which games are played has transformed.
"Live dealer games make you feel like you are actually in the room. The wizardry of tech allows players to interact with a human dealer and fellow contestants in real-time," says Cutajar.
"Even when we think we have seen everything, something else comes along and surprises us. We are always eager to share the latest innovations and trends with players.
“One that has taken the world by storm this year is Aviator, which does not feature payout lines but instead makes players decide when to cash out before they crash out. Part of the allure is the hyper-casual multiplayer interface, which makes it easy to pick up and play with friends."
Casino.org continuously updates and evaluates the available options in the market. While recommended sites benefit from the thriving industry, they must consistently meet high standards to distinguish themselves and earn approval from the expert review team.
DISCLAIMER: The information presented on this page/site is intended for entertainment purposes only. Please be aware that gambling entails inherent risks, and it's crucial to acknowledge this when utilizing online gambling platforms.
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