As a part of recent changes, players in British Columbia need to present state-issued identification to access casinos.

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) is gearing up with measures aimed at enhancing player protection gamblers in the Canadian province . The latest mandate requires every gambler in brick-and-mortar casinos across British Columbia to show official ID before they start rolling the dice. This initiative supports individuals who opted into their self-exclusion framework.

With this campaign, the authorities aim to encourage responsible gambling habits while refining the effectiveness of the self-exclusion framework. More details, including the exact date of enforcement, will be rolled out soon. However, BCLC plans to implement this policy by summer.

Under the new arrangements, security staff in brick-and-mortar casinos will be tasked with examining the presented IDs. They'll use the IDs to verify eligibility by checking them against the self-exclusion 'Game Break' sign-up list. A promise has been made that the new system will not keep any personal data of those given access to gaming venues.

Game Break, a voluntary initiative by BCLC, gives participants the option to put a pause on their gaming activities for a selected time frame. With a subscription to this service, individuals choose if they want to self-restrict from BC casinos or PlayNow.com, the province’s sole legal online gaming platform.

In a recent tweet, BCLC shared, “Here’s some news for BC casino-goers. To better assist individuals enrolled in BCLC’s Game Break self-exclusion plan, this summer, we're boosting ID checks at casinos.”

Based on insights from the Crown Corporation, those involved in the Game Break scheme believe that verifying IDs plays a pivotal role in determining their gambling choices. As stated on the official site, it’s up to the players to adhere to self-exclusion pledges, with casinos providing a helping hand by denying access to their premises.

Even though circumstances such as jackpot winnings might necessitate age and ID verification, this norm primarily concentrates on the self-exclusion scheme in the province. Crucially, the initiative targets individuals who’ve self-excluded and those barred from visiting gaming venues.

Accepted forms of government-issued identification include:

• North American driver’s license
• British Columbia’s Identity Card
• Valid passport (national and international)
• Permanent resident card
• Canadian identity card
• Indian status card

By May 1, 2023, 10,818 members were enrolled in the Game Break scheme.