The door
ID Checks at Cascades Casino Kamloops
In British Columbia the check at the casino door is short and strict: every guest shows government-issued photo ID, and security scans it. The tool below asks three questions and tells you if you are likely to get in.
Answered by the Q&A teamChecked October 14, 2026
Is 19 the minimum age in BC?
Yes, 19 is the minimum age in British Columbia. It applies to casinos and to online gambling alike.
Playing is not the only thing the rule covers. Anyone under 19 is barred from gambling venues entirely. A younger friend or relative cannot come in to keep someone company, wait by the games or watch from the sidelines.
Which cards count as photo ID?
- A driver's licence from B.C. or from anywhere in North America
- The B.C. Identity Card (BCID) or the B.C. Services Card
- A passport, Canadian or international
- A Canadian citizenship card or a Canadian permanent resident card
- A Secure Certificate of Indian Status card, or a membership card issued by a First Nations, Métis or Inuit band
- A Canadian identity card issued by Global Affairs Canada, or government-issued foreign ID
- Age: 19 or older for any casino in BC.
- Photo ID on BCLC's list: Driver's licence (B.C. or North American); B.C. Identity Card (BCID); B.C. Services Card (with photo); Passport (Canadian or international); Canadian citizenship card; Permanent resident card; Secure Certificate of Indian Status; Canadian identity card issued by Global Affairs Canada; First Nations, Métis or Inuit band membership card; Other government-issued foreign photo ID.
- Security scans it at the door against the restricted list, which includes Game Break.
What happens when security scans your ID?
Security scans the card and checks it against a list of people restricted from entering. Since June 26, 2023, every person who walks into a B.C. casino shows government-issued photo ID. The list includes people enrolled in Game Break, the program described further down this page.
Someone on the restricted list does not get past that point. For people who are let in, the system does not save personal information. B.C. was the first jurisdiction in North America to require ID at the casino door.
What if you are enrolled in Game Break?
Going in is blocked by the ID scan at the door. Game Break, BCLC's voluntary self-exclusion program, is an agreement to stay away for a set period. Lengths on offer are 3 years, 2 years, 1 year or 6 months, and the choice is final once made.
A single agreement applies both to entry and play at BC gaming facilities and to play on PlayNow.com. Anyone in self-exclusion who still plays has no right to a prize. Sign-up takes place face to face with a casino gaming worker, bringing government-issued photo ID, or by joining a BCLC employee in an online meeting.
More quick questions
Will a passport from another country work?
Yes, an international passport is on the list of accepted photo ID. Government-issued foreign ID is accepted as well.
Can my friend under 19 wait inside?
No. In British Columbia, anyone younger than 19 is not allowed inside gambling venues, and that applies even to waiting inside while another person plays.
Does the casino keep a copy of my licence?
No, not for people who are let in. Security scans the ID and checks it against the list of people restricted from entering. For guests who enter, the system does not save personal information.
Do I need ID to become an Encore Rewards member?
Yes, valid ID is needed. Gateway's players club goes by the name Encore Rewards, and joining is free. Sign-up takes place at the Guest Services desk, where valid ID must be shown.