Shortly after launch, PlayNow was taken down for maintenance. The service cost $7.3 million, and was developed with OpenBet. BC Minister of Housing and Social Development Rich Coleman stated that the service aimed to provide a legal alternative to unregulated online gambling services, so revenue could stay within the province and support local causes. In July 2010, PlayNow added online blackjack, craps, and roulette, becoming the first legal online casino in Canada.
PlayNow first launched in 2004, initially allowing users to purchase BCLC lottery products online. The site has since expanded into other provinces in Western Canada, as part of partnerships with Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA). Launched in 2004, it first expanded into online casino games in 2010 offering online table games, slots, and sports betting. is an online gambling website owned and operated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC).
