Casino Nanaimo ID Check: Which Cards Count

The age line

Nineteen and over

In British Columbia the gambling age is 19. The same line applies at casinos and to online play. Nobody younger may enter a gambling venue, so a friend under 19 cannot come in, even to sit with you.

The same rule applies if you intend to spend an evening at The Well Public House. Anyone attending its weekly entertainment has to be at least 19 and present government-issued photo ID. Dates for those nights appear on the casino's own events page.

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Three panels at the door

Your age The card in your wallet I am enrolled in Game Break

You
The scan
Verdict

Everyone shows government-issued photo ID at the door; 19 and older only. Cards on BC's list:

B.C. driver's licence
Driver's licence from elsewhere in North America
B.C. Identity Card (BCID)
B.C. Services Card
Passport, Canadian or international
Canadian citizenship card
Canadian permanent resident card
Secure Certificate of Indian Status card
Canadian identity card from Global Affairs Canada
First Nations, Métis or Inuit band membership card
Government-issued photo ID from another country

Anyone who enters a B.C. casino must present government-issued photo ID; security scans it and compares it with the list of people not allowed in, such as Game Break enrollees. Nothing personal is kept for those who are admitted. Not sure about a card? Call 250-753-3033.

The scan

The scan at the door

Starting June 26, 2023, every visitor to a B.C. casino has had to present government-issued photo ID at the door. This applies equally to regulars and first-time guests. Security scans the card and compares it with the list of people barred from entering.

Among them are people signed up for Game Break. BCLC runs Game Break, a voluntary self-exclusion program. A term lasts either 6 months or 1, 2 or 3 years, and once picked it cannot be changed. It applies to PlayNow.com and to BC casinos, bingo halls and community gaming centres. For anyone admitted, the system stores no personal information.

Cards that count

Driver's licences: a B.C. driver's licence, or one issued elsewhere in North America.
B.C. cards: the B.C. Identity Card (BCID) and the B.C. Services Card.
Passports: a Canadian passport or an international one.
Cards showing Canadian status or residency: a Secure Certificate of Indian Status card, a Canadian citizenship card, the Canadian identity card from Global Affairs Canada, or a permanent resident card.
Band cards and foreign ID: membership cards from First Nations, Metis or Inuit bands, and government-issued photo ID from another country.

From away

Coming from out of province

If you are coming off a ferry from outside B.C., check the card in your wallet first. A driver's licence from elsewhere in North America is on the list. So is a Canadian or international passport, as is government-issued photo ID from another country. Anyone unsure whether a card counts can call Casino Nanaimo at 250-753-3033 before setting out. The casino is at 620 Terminal Ave, downtown.

Questions

Quick answers

The desk answers from the facts checked for this guide. Tap a question to open the answer.

Will a passport get me in?

Yes, a Canadian or international passport is on the list of photo ID accepted at B.C. casinos.

Can a friend under 19 wait for me inside?

No, the gambling age in British Columbia is 19, and nobody younger may enter a gambling venue. That holds even if your friend only wants to wait and does not plan to play.

Does the casino keep my ID scan?

Not if you are admitted. Security scans your ID and compares it with the list of people barred from entry. Once you are admitted, the system keeps no personal information about you.

Does a Washington State driver's licence count?

A driver's licence from elsewhere in North America is on the accepted list, and that includes Washington State. Anyone unsure can call Casino Nanaimo at 250-753-3033 before coming.

Your ID at the Casino Nanaimo Door