British Columbia Introduces New Gambling Regulations to Combat Money Laundering

British Columbia Introduces New Gambling Regulations to Combat Money Laundering

The Government of British Columbia has unveiled new gambling regulations aimed at preventing money laundering and strengthening oversight across the sector. Announced by the Ministry of Public Safety on December 2, 2023, the updated Gaming Control Act is set to come into effect on April 13, 2026. The Province says the new framework is designed to better deter illegal activity, including money laundering and fraud.

Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger said the Act will establish a “strong regulatory framework” and equip the incoming Independent Gambling Control Office to more effectively address criminal activity while protecting the public. The legislation was passed in the fall of 2022 and responds to recommendations from two major independent reviews: the German Report and the Cullen Commission. Both called for an independent gambling regulator and a clearer separation of responsibilities between the regulator and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC).

Independent office to oversee gambling activities

As part of the new model, British Columbia plans to transition the existing Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch into the Independent Gambling Control Office. This new office will oversee gambling activities managed by the BCLC, charitable gambling, and the horse-racing industry in B.C. The office will include a general manager responsible for creating and enforcing regulations related to gambling and horse racing.

For context, this is the kind of regulatory oversight that applies to legal, land-based casinos operating in the province—such as Parq Casino in downtown Vancouver.

The new office is also expected to introduce measures to prevent and detect problem gambling and illegal activity across both physical casinos and online gambling channels. In addition, it will continue to manage Gambling Support BC, providing outreach and treatment services for individuals affected by gambling harm. Both the Independent Gambling Control Office and the new Act are scheduled to take effect on April 13, 2026.

Revised fee structure to reflect regulatory costs

Alongside the regulatory overhaul, the Act will amend a fee structure that has not been updated in over 15 years. The Province outlined three main changes:

• Higher registration and licensing fees
• New fee categories
• Revenue-based fees

The revised fee structure is intended to adjust fees for inflation and better align them with the true cost of regulation. Examples provided include:

• Organizations generating under $5,000: $25
• $5,000–$20,000: $75
• $20,000–$50,000: $150
• Over $250,000: $500

This structure is intended to ensure smaller organizations are not disproportionately burdened, with higher-revenue operators paying more toward the cost of oversight.

These regulatory changes follow consultations with industry stakeholders and reflect British Columbia’s stated goal: a more responsible gambling environment with stronger compliance standards and increased public confidence in how the sector is regulated.