British Columbia Lottery increases deposit limit to help prevent unregulated play

[The Buzz]

British Columbia Lottery Corporation operating PlayNow.com, the only regulated online gambling site in British Columbia, is increasing its weekly transfer-in limit to expand its appeal and move high limit players away from unregulated, grey market gambling sites and over to PlayNow.com, providing player health, anti-money laundering and privacy safeguards.

From the BCLC press release:

Players now have the option to set their own weekly transfer-in limit up to $100,000. Previously, players could transfer in up to $9,999 per week - a level that was in place for more than a decade.

The changes are designed to appeal to the small number of British Columbians who already play at these limits on grey market sites. It is estimated there are more than 2,000 unregulated offshore sites that are operating in B.C., and approximately 73% of British Columbians who gamble online do so using unregulated, grey-market sites with little to no player health or anti-money laundering safeguards. These sites also do not pay taxes, support jobs in B.C., nor deliver profits to the Province.

Read more here: https://www.gpwa.org/article/playnow...-limits-233532

[BSC]

What a load of fear-mongering garbage.

Playnow.com and its parent BCLC (British Columbia Lottery Corporation) like to remind players at every turn that playnow.com is "BC's only legal online casino".

That's absolutely true. Playnow.com is the only casino that can operate legally on BC land.

It's also true that British Columbians are welcome at thousands of other online casinos that aren't operated out of British Columbia.

My opinion, as a player, is that Playnow.com offers one of the worst play experiences. Part of the reason is referenced in this article: Playnow.com has a lower payout so player funds can be attributed to provincial revenues (taxes) and "support jobs". Other online casinos can offer a higher Return to Player (RTP) because their jurisdiction is less greedy. Most people are not playing to support jobs, charities, or the government, they are playing to win. If I want to support a charitable cause I will write a cheque* and claim it as a deduction at tax time. If I want to play at a casino I will go where the RTP is highest.

*In Canada "check" is spelled "cheque"

This move will not have as much of an effect as they are hoping for. The reality is they are scared of the competition and want to uphold a monopoly on gambling.

The "player health controls" and "privacy safeguards" are no better that other online casinos. In fact some online casinos have far better controls. And with respect to anti-money laundering, BCLC has had egg on its face several times over recent years with lottery retailers claiming large prizes for themselves and an obscene amount of money being laundered in land-based casinos.

With a poor selection of boring games, zero VIP or bonus incentives, and 3-day withdrawals I guess their only other option is fear-mongering. Hopefully affiliates can help enlighten British Columbians on the many other (and far better) options for casino entertainment.

[WGL]

Absolute trash PlayNow. About a year ago they approached me to advertise on a site I had that is not a gambling affiliate site. Like any brand I promote, we made a deposit and played for a while. Tried to cash out after turning the money over plenty of times, and i'm still waiting.

[Maxfalcon]

What a load of fear-mongering garbage.

Playnow.com and its parent BCLC (British Columbia Lottery Corporation) like to remind players at every turn that playnow.com is "BC's only legal online casino".

That's absolutely true. Playnow.com is the only casino that can operate legally on BC land.

It's also true that British Columbians are welcome at thousands of other online casinos that aren't operated out of British Columbia.

My opinion, as a player, is that Playnow.com offers one of the worst play experiences. Part of the reason is referenced in this article: Playnow.com has a lower payout so player funds can be attributed to provincial revenues (taxes) and "support jobs". Other online casinos can offer a higher Return to Player (RTP) because their jurisdiction is less greedy. Most people are not playing to support jobs, charities, or the government, they are playing to win. If I want to support a charitable cause I will write a cheque* and claim it as a deduction at tax time. If I want to play at a casino I will go where the RTP is highest.

*In Canada "check" is spelled "cheque"

This move will not have as much of an effect as they are hoping for. The reality is they are scared of the competition and want to uphold a monopoly on gambling.

The "player health controls" and "privacy safeguards" are no better that other online casinos. In fact some online casinos have far better controls. And with respect to anti-money laundering, BCLC has had egg on its face several times over recent years with lottery retailers claiming large prizes for themselves and an obscene amount of money being laundered in land-based casinos.

With a poor selection of boring games, zero VIP or bonus incentives, and 3-day withdrawals I guess their only other option is fear-mongering. Hopefully affiliates can help enlighten British Columbians on the many other (and far better) options for casino entertainment.

You're right, legality is for those who can write laws. Legality is an unbalanced human concept, it is applied conveniently by those who possess this tool (it's more of a powerful weapon). Nothing new under the horizon. Like a child who cannot hold the podium by way of value, they throw "tantrums" at the figure of everyone, hoping their incapacity will not be seen. The worst is that after years of acting like that, they really believe their own bullshit. That's a human "power"...

[OCS John]

This reminds me of several years ago with the provincial government in Quebec tried to pass legislation to block all online gaming sites EXCEPT their own Loto-Quebec. The stated reason?

"Finance Minister Carlos Leitao had said the law was necessary to protect the health and safety of Quebecers because private gambling companies don’t apply the same responsible gaming rules as the provincial government."

Fortunately the courts blocked this attempt as they realized it was a pretty transparent attempt to earn all the online gaming revenues for themselves.

[falseadoom]

The games are same as you would find in a land casino. The payout times were fine, what I didn't like was the under 10,000 withdraw limit, and the lack of bonuses they offer.

player health controls - You can ban yourself for years and it can not be undone until time is lapsed.

BCLC lottery has improved, with drawings a couple times a week. We had a local winner here that won 24 million and then went to Vegas.. LOL