PlayNow Casino Review
Best for provincial Crown-run betting and casino
What we like
- Run by provincial Crown operators, with GameSense support built in
- Deposits from $5, with Interac e-Transfer, PayPal and cards
- Sports, casino, lottery, poker and bingo in one account
- Game Break self-exclusion can be started online or by video call
What could be better
- Withdrawals go to a bank account, taking up to three days
- Only available to players located in BC, Manitoba or Saskatchewan
- Welcome offer terms differ by province and page
PlayNow is the government-run online casino for BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with slots, table games, live casino and a first deposit match offer.
We haven't finished our hands-on test of PlayNow yet, so there's no score. Everything below comes from regulator records, PlayNow's own published information and the sources linked on this page.
Who runs PlayNow Casino
PlayNow's casino is operated by the same provincial bodies as the rest of the site: BCLC in British Columbia, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries in Manitoba, and SIGA in Saskatchewan. BCLC added online casino games in July 2010 after development with OpenBet, and the build cost $7.3 million.
The launch was not trouble free. In summer 2010 a security flaw let users see other accounts and the site was taken offline, with 134 accounts affected, before it returned in August 2010. The privacy commissioner required an independent review. Since then the site has expanded to Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Licensing and safety
There is no private operator licence to check here. PlayNow is run directly by Crown operators in each province, and the site is open only to players located in the relevant province. In BC you must be 19 or older to register.
Safety measures on the BC site include independent age and residency verification, a 24 hour delay on deposit limit increases and a 52 week purchase history. PlayNow also links to GameSense, which explains how games work and their odds.
Games on offer
The casino lobby lists slots, blackjack, jackpots, instant games, table games and video poker, with a dedicated live casino section. Roulette and baccarat are also mentioned. The page does not give a game count, saying only that there are hundreds more beyond the featured titles.
Beyond the casino, PlayNow offers poker tournaments with a desktop client for Windows, and bingo rooms. Casino players can also use the account tools described below, including a weekly deposit limit, and the BC help centre says the transaction history on your account is viewable for up to six months. Inactive accounts may be closed by BCLC if there have been no deposits or game purchases for a year or more, so keep that in mind if you play only occasionally.
Encore Rewards and welcome offers
PlayNow runs Encore Rewards, a membership program for casino players, and the site has the tier details. New players are invited to choose a welcome bonus when they join.
The Manitoba casino page lists four welcome offers and says players can choose only one. The casino match offer there is up to $250 on your first deposit, with a minimum deposit of $5. The match is issued automatically after you spend 100% of that first deposit, and spend on baccarat, roulette and live casino games does not count. A separate $150 live casino sign-up bonus is also listed. Read the wagering rules and expiry in the terms for your province.
Payments and withdrawals
Deposits start at $5. The deposit methods page lists debit cards, Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards, Interac e-Transfer, Interac Online for select institutions, PayPal, Web Cash vouchers and online bill payment. Debit cards and Interac e-Transfer carry no fee from PlayNow, while credit card deposits may be treated as cash advances by your bank.
Withdrawals go to your bank account by electronic funds transfer. BCLC says to allow up to three business days to process, then roughly one more business day for the funds to arrive. Withdrawing unused deposits to a bank account is restricted, and BCLC may refund them to the original payment method instead. The daily win limit is roughly $500,000 to $1,000,000 depending on the game, with lottery wins and progressive jackpots excluded.
Support and safer gambling
Customer support is available by phone on 1-877-706-6789 and by live chat. Live chat for Game Break enrolment runs daily from 7am to midnight Pacific time.
Game Break is the self-exclusion program, lasting six months, one, two or three years, and it cannot be changed once registered. It closes your PlayNow account and keeps you out of gambling facilities. To come back you must complete the Game Plan Course and submit a Return to Play form. You can also set a weekly deposit limit in your account.
Who PlayNow Casino suits
PlayNow Casino suits players in BC, Manitoba or Saskatchewan who prefer a government-run site and want casino, lottery and sports in one account. The welcome offer varies by province, so confirm what you are eligible for first.
PlayNow licence details
PlayNow is licensed in 1 of the regions we cover. The brand is run by British Columbia Lottery Corporation (Crown corporation). You can check each licence yourself using the regulator links below.
| Region | Regulator | Licence / licensee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Provincial Crown operators: BCLC (BC), Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MB), Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SK) | BC: British Columbia Lottery Corporation; MB: Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries; SK: Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) | BC, MB, SK |
Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] · Checked 1 November 2026
PlayNow payment methods
| Method | Minimum deposit | Withdrawal time |
|---|---|---|
| Debit card | $5 | – |
| Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards | $5 | – |
| Interac e-Transfer | $5 | – |
| PayPal | $5 | – |
| Web Cash vouchers | $5 | – |
| Online bill payment | $5 | – |
| Bank account (EFT withdrawal) | – | Up to three business days for BCLC to process, then about one more business day for the bank |
As published by PlayNow. Times are the operator's own figures, after it approves the withdrawal.
Apps
We haven't confirmed PlayNow's app listings yet.
Features
| Live casino | Yes |
|---|
How we'll score PlayNow
When our test is complete, PlayNow gets a score out of 10 from these criteria. Read the full rating method.
| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing & safety | 20% | – |
| Payments & payout speed | 15% | – |
| Game range & providers | 15% | – |
| Game fairness & RTP info | 10% | – |
| Bonuses & fair terms | 10% | – |
| Live casino | 10% | – |
| App & usability | 10% | – |
| Customer support | 5% | – |
| Responsible gambling tools | 5% | – |
PlayNow also offers sports betting: read our PlayNow betting review.
PlayNow FAQs
What casino games does PlayNow have?
PlayNow lists slots, blackjack, jackpots, instant games, table games, video poker and a live casino section.
Is there a PlayNow casino welcome bonus?
The Manitoba page lists a match of up to $250 on a first deposit of at least $5, one of four welcome offers you can choose from.
Which provinces can use PlayNow?
British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, with a separate site for each province.
Does PlayNow have a loyalty scheme?
Yes. Encore Rewards is a membership program for casino players, and the site has the tier details.
Review sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
Play safe
Only bet with money you can afford to lose. Set deposit limits when you open your account, and use time-outs or self-exclusion if betting stops being fun. Free, confidential help: Canada: ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600.