PlayNow in Canada: 22 Years of Online Gambling History
PlayNow has been operating in Canada for 22 years, having first launched in 2004. The Canadian online gambling platform was created by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), a government-owned company in British Columbia. This means PlayNow started when people were still using dial-up internet and early cell phones, making it one of the oldest legal online gaming sites in the country.
When PlayNow launched in 2004, it only let customers buy lottery tickets online from British Columbia. For example, players could order BCLC lottery products without visiting a physical store. Seven years later in July 2010, PlayNow added online blackjack, craps, and roulette games, becoming the very first legal online casino in all of Canada. This made PlayNow stand out from other gaming sites that were not regulated.
PlayNow has grown to serve players in three western Canadian provinces over the years. In 2013, the platform expanded to Manitoba through a partnership with Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, letting Manitoba residents play online too. Then in November 2022, PlayNow launched in Saskatchewan with the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, bringing regulated online gaming to more than 15 million Canadians across the three provinces.
Today in 2026, PlayNow remains Canada’s well-established and trusted online sports betting and casino platform. The service is the fastest-growing part of BCLC’s business, showing consistent year-over-year growth with more players joining each year. PlayNow operates under strict government rules in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, making it a safe and secure option for Canadian gamblers who want regulated online gaming.
This is the official PlayNow Sportsbook app for residents of Manitoba (Canada) only. With the PlayNow Sportsbook app, you have instant access to Manitoba's own
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