Bring your photo ID
Gambling in British Columbia is for adults. You must be 19 or older to play at any BCLC casino.
Since June 26, 2023, every guest must show government-issued photo ID to enter a BC casino. It does not matter how old you look. Security scans the ID and checks it against the list of people barred from gambling facilities, including people enrolled in Game Break. BCLC says it stores no personal information for people who are allowed in.
Bring the original card. Photos and copies are not accepted. Accepted ID includes:
- A BC or North American driver's licence
- A BC Identity Card (BCID) or BC Services Card
- A Canadian or international passport
- A Canadian citizenship card or permanent resident card
- A Secure Certificate of Indian Status card
- Membership cards issued by First Nations, Métis or Inuit bands
- Government-issued foreign ID
The full list is on BCLC's casino FAQ and the casinosbc.com ID page.
Cash and larger amounts
Most first visits involve small amounts. It still helps to know the provincial rules, so nothing comes as a surprise.
- Casinos track play once accumulated transactions reach $1,500. Staff may ask anyone where their funds came from, whatever the amount.
- Casinos verify the identity of anyone whose buy-ins or payouts reach $3,000 or more in a single day.
- Buying in with cash, bank drafts or certified cheques totalling $10,000 or more in 24 hours means filling out a source-of-funds declaration. An original receipt from a financial institution is required as proof.
- Since October 1, 2025, casino payouts over $10,000 are reported to FINTRAC, the federal financial intelligence agency.
The details are on the province's gambling and anti-money-laundering page.
No smoking or vaping inside
BC law bans smoking and vaping in all indoor public places and workplaces, and casinos are named in it. Smoking and vaping are also not allowed within 6 metres of doorways, air intakes or open windows. Local bylaws can be stricter. The venue has not published its own smoking policy that this flyer could find.
Set a budget before you leave home
Decide what the evening is worth to you as entertainment, the same way you would for a concert or a dinner out. Pick an amount and a time to head home. When either one is used up, the night is done.
Leave the bank card at home if that helps. Treat any money spent as the price of the outing, not as something to get back.
The limit tool on the home page helps you write down a spending and time limit before you go.
Slots and tables move at different speeds
BCLC's casino site lists slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, electronic tables and poker at the Coquitlam casino.
Slots are self-paced. You play alone at a machine, and each round takes seconds. Time and money can go by faster than you expect, so check the clock now and then.
Table games have a dealer and other players. Rounds move at the table's pace, with pauses between hands. Watching a few rounds before you sit down is a calm way to learn how a game flows.
Electronic tables sit somewhere in between: a table game played at a screen.
GameSense is on site
BCLC's casino site lists a GameSense Info Centre at the casino. Every BC casino has GameSense Advisors on site. They can explain how games work, talk about setting limits or help with Game Break, BCLC's voluntary self-exclusion program. You can also call them at 1-866-815-0222, or visit GameSense.
If gambling stops feeling like fun, Gambling Support BC is free and open 24/7 at 1-888-795-6111. More on our gambling support page.
The rest of the trip
BCLC's casino site lists the floor as open 24/7, with free parking and complimentary coffee. For bus routes and driving directions, see Getting there. For food and shows, see The casino and Theatre nights. Opening hours for the restaurants change, so check the official site before you go.