Thursday December 4, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The new gaming control act will come into effect on April 13, 2026.
The goal is to establish an updated regulatory framework and new regulations for the gambling industry toward preventing illegal activities, such as money laundering and fraud.
- The gaming control act comes into force on April 13, 2026
- New policies are being put in place to deter money laundering, encourage responsible gambling
- Government is creating the new independent gambling control office (IGCO) to regulate gambling in B.C.
Buying lottery tickets, playing casino games, online gambling, and betting on horse races are just a few of the types of gambling that adults can choose from in B.C.
Money laundering:
“Money laundering is a serious issue in our province and across the country, and strong oversight is needed to prevent it,” said Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, on December 4.
Stronger regulations:
“The new act creates a strong regulatory framework so that the Independent Gambling Control Office, our new independent regulator, can more effectively address criminal activity and protect people in BC,” said Krieger.
The act was passed in fall 2022, delivering on a commitment to address weaknesses in B.C.’s regulatory framework that hindered an effective response to money laundering, while addressing other issues like problem gambling.
The act accounts for online gambling and evolving gaming technologies, while addressing recommendations from two independent reviews: the German Report and Cullen Commission.
Recommendations:
The recommendations include:
- creating an independent gambling regulator
- clarifying the roles and responsibilities between the regulator and the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC)
- establishing a standards-based regulatory model
- making money laundering the responsibility of the regulator
- allowing the regulator to issue directives to BCLC without the consent of the minister
Transitioning to a new independent office:
Alongside the new act, the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB) will be transitioning to an independent gambling control office. The new office will work to maintain the overall integrity of gambling in B.C. by providing regulatory oversight of gambling conducted and managed by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, charitable gambling, and B.C.’s horse-racing industry.
The independent gambling control office will have a general manager who makes and enforces regulations in gambling and horse racing. This allows for new requirements that will help prevent and detect problem gambling and unlawful activity, including money laundering, in casinos and online.
In addition, the independent gambling control office will continue to administer the Gambling Support BC program, which delivers outreach and treatment services to anyone who is hurt from gambling. The IGCO will also take effect April, 13, 2026.
Updating the existing fee structure:
The act includes regulatory changes to the gambling industry’s fee structure, which had not been updated in more than 15 years. These changes were made after consultation with industry stakeholders and to ensure fees align with costs to regulate the gaming sector.
- Increasing fees for registration and licensing: Several fees will increase based on inflation and to better reflect the costs of regulation. This includes administrative costs, such as conducting background checks, supporting licensing applications, monitoring compliance and taking enforcement actions.
- Creating new fee categories: New classes will be added to reflect the expansion in recent years of BCLC’s online gambling platform, PlayNow.com.
- Establishing revenue-based fees: New fees for gaming facilities and charitable gaming events will be based on revenue, instead of a flat fee. This means organizations and facilities that bring in smaller amounts of money will pay less than those bringing in larger amounts.
The gaming control act will put policies in place to deter money laundering, encourage responsible gambling and ensure that B.C.’s gaming industry is well regulated and working for British Columbians.
Government links:
* Learn more about gambling in B.C. here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/gambling-fundraising/gambling-in-bc
* Learn more about money-laundering in B.C. and read relevant reports here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/anti-money-laundering
* Learn more about the Independent Gambling Control Office transition here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2019AG0128-002393
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: LOTTERIES & GAMBLING