Money laundering and gambling

Actions taken by the B.C. government and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC)

Casinos and other gambling facilities can present opportunities for money laundering in B.C. The B.C. government and the BCLC are taking action to strengthen safeguards and prevent money laundering in gambling facilities.

On this page

• Regulation and oversight
• Measures to combat money laundering
• BCLC’s role in Canada’s AML regime

Regulation and oversight

The provincial Independent Gaming Control Office (IGCO) regulates all gambling in B.C., ensures the integrity of gambling industry companies, people and equipment, and investigates allegations of wrongdoing.

BCLC conducts and manages gambling in B.C. on behalf of the B.C. government.

Measures to combat money laundering

• Gaming Control Act: The new Gaming Control Act, which came into effect on April 13, 2026, strengthening the authority of the B.C. government's gambling regulator to prevent money laundering. It also formally established the Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO), transitioning from the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, as the independent regulator responsible for oversight, compliance, enforcement, and rule-making across B.C.’s gambling and horse racing sectors.
• Mandatory ID and verified play: BCLC now requires mandatory identification for entry into B.C. casinos. BCLC also operates with 100% verified, account-based play on its online platform, PlayNow.com, and is committed to increasing verified, account-based play in casinos. This will help BCLC better monitor and know the source of funds in B.C. casinos
• Source of funds declaration and identity verification: BCLC requires anyone buying-in with cash, bank drafts, or certified cheques of $10,000 or more in a 24-hour period to complete a source of funds declaration. Casinos also verify the identity of individuals making buy-ins of $3,000 or more in a single day. Suspicious transactions in B.C. casinos have declined since these policies were introduced
• IGCO regulatory staff attend casinos to respond to incidents of money laundering and other gambling-related criminal activity. The B.C. government also provides ongoing funding for the Joint Illegal Gaming Investigation Team (JIGIT) which combats illegal gambling activity

BCLC’s role in Canada’s AML regime

BCLC is part of Canada's anti-money laundering regime, working with a network of organizations to safeguard B.C. casinos from money laundering. This includes:

• Using a transaction monitoring system to monitor, investigate and report suspicious transactions of any amount in casinos and on its online platform, PlayNow.com
• Reporting casino disbursements over $10,000 to the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), including the identity of the ultimate beneficiary, effective October 1, 2025