Money laundering and gambling

Casinos and other gambling facilities can present opportunities for money laundering in B.C.

The provincial Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch is responsible for regulating and maintaining the overall integrity of gambling in British Columbia by registering all people and companies that provide gambling services such as casino operators. The Branch is also responsible for investigating any conduct, activity or incident occurring in connection with gambling that could threaten the integrity of the industry.

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is responsible for conducting and managing gambling in B.C. on behalf of the provincial government.

Learn more about how the Province of B.C. is working with these organizations to strengthen policies and initiatives to prevent money laundering in gambling facilities, like casinos.

Actions taken by the Province of B.C. and BCLC

Gaming Control Act

The Province passed a new Gaming Control Act in November 2022 that will strengthen the authority of the Province's gambling regulator to prevent money laundering and other unlawful activity. This includes the authority to set the buy-in limit for a source of funds declaration.

Source of funds declaration

At B.C. casinos, BCLC requires anyone buying-in with cash, a bank draft, or a certified cheque of $10,000 or more in a 24-hour period to complete a source of funds declaration and provide proof of where the money came from. Suspicious transactions in B.C. casinos have declined since this policy was introduced. Additionally, BCLC requires casinos to verify people’s identities for all buy-ins of $3,000 or more in a single transaction.

When the new Gaming Control Act comes into force, BCLC, gambling services providers, and gambling workers will be required by law to refuse large transactions from patrons who do not meet source of funds requirements.

Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch regulatory staff in casinos

Regulatory staff are available to attend casinos to respond to incidents of money laundering and other criminal activity related to gambling. Investigators provide coverage seven days a week for 14 hours a day at the five largest Lower Mainland casinos.

Increased identification and verification requirements in casinos

BCLC introduced mandatory identification for entry into B.C. casinos.

BCLC is working on a new strategy to ensure 100 percent account-based, known play (verified play) in casinos by 2029. This will help BCLC better monitor and know the source of funds in B.C. casinos.

BCLC introduced an anti-money laundering transaction monitoring system that tracks transactions against known players across casinos. In February 2024, the system was rolled out to the Parq Casino in Vancouver, with other Lower Mainland casinos to follow by the end of 2024 and all remaining B.C. casinos by March 2025.