PlayNow Casino Review 2024

BCLC PlayNow holds a special place in the hearts of Canadian bettors. First launched in 2004, this part-casino, part-sportsbook was one of the first to be officially run in British Columbia.

The online casino and sports betting website offers legal online gambling options to members in Canada. Given how strongly the BCLC takes problem gambling, it won’t surprise you to learn that the site is packed with safety features, too. A problem gambling helpline, voluntary self-exclusion options and limits on playing time are some of the perks related to player safety at this site.

Aside from just casino games, you can also find sports betting options and even lottery games. Loto Quebec, lottery tickets from Manitoba lotteries, and even poker are a part of this site’s business model and services. Canadian players have access to the works.

Signing Up & User Experience

Registering at the website is a doddle. Players in North America can hit the red “join” button to begin the process. After doing so, you can use the e-form to sign up. The e-form allows you to choose your welcome bonus from those available, enter your details and verify your account.

Play Now Casino is straightforward to navigate, with all its primary gaming options displayed larger than life in the lobby. Choosing a game has been made easier through the use of filters. Like most casinos, these allow you to rapidly dive between sports, casino games, live casino, and other genres. The HTML design is also friendly for those who prefer to play on the go.

PlayNow Casino Bonuses

The online gambling website does offer promos and bonuses. However, don’t expect a wealth of them. As a promoter of responsible gambling, and a site that acts within legal online gambling laws and parameters from institutions such as Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, authorities in British Columbia and elsewhere, BCLC PlayNow only offers a handful of fair, transparent bonuses. Let’s look at those next.

PlayNow Casino Welcome Bonus

To get the ball rolling, the online gaming site offers you different welcome bonuses when you open a PlayNow account. The first two are reserved for casino players, and you can bag a C$20 Freeplay Token for the live casino site. A minimum deposit of C$20 is required to pocket this offer. The other offer is C$50 Freeplay to use on casino games, and to receive this offer you will need make a deposit of minimum C$25 and play them through. Pick wisely because you can’t use the bonus on “the other” online gambling options and vice-versa.

If you are looking for better casino welcome bonuses you may want to explore other operators like Betsafe casino online or Boom Casino.

Other Online Gambling and Sports Betting Bonuses

Alternatively, fans can snap up different bonuses for sports betting or lottery games when opening a PlayNow account.

A lottery offer promises a free $5 token when you deposit a minimum of $5. You can use that bonus on any lottery games supported at PlayNow.com.

By contrast, sports betting fans can pocket a C$150 match bonus when they deposit C$10 or more into their PlayNow account.

There are wagering requirements on all these bonuses, and they will vary. We encourage you to check the gambling Ts and Cs attached to each bonus before claiming any offer after opening your PlayNow account.

Other Play Now Promotions

Aside from PlayNow’s online gambling website opening offers, there are other deals for you to claim. These span all your favorite games, from lottery, sports, casino, and live casino games, too.

The online gaming portal offers you Bet-Back bonuses on sports betting losses; there are Rake Races when you are playing poker and a C$10 Hourly Freeroll if poker players want to take advantage of that, too. Even bingo fans won’t be left in the lurch here.

VIP Program – Encore Rewards

After logging into your account, you can check out your current loyalty status, much like at other casinos. PlayNow has an Encore Rewards scheme for you to join. When you bet on available games, you can earn points. Those Encore Rewards can be used to purchase free gambling credit and climb the different membership levels of the program.

The more playing time you dedicate to PlayNow and their games, the higher the membership level you reach. This means more Encore Rewards and more chances to win real money goodies. Levels span Single Diamond, Double Diamond, Triple Diamond, and Elite tiers. Each of these communities has its own perks accessible for players, including free birthday rewards, personalized offers, exclusive access to competitions and more.

PlayNow Casino Games Selection

As touched on, PlayNow is home to more than just slots and casino titles. It also supports poker action, lottery gameplay, and more. When you choose to play at PlayNow, you’re getting so much more than casino titles, and that helps it stand out from other casinos online in Canada.

The selection of games here spans over a thousand titles. You can play for fun or for real money. Many players may prefer the extensive selection of slots available, but there is more to play than that. Blackjack, roulette, free play games, live casino, progressive jackpot online casino, instant win titles, and all manner of your other favorite games are supported.

Slots naturally make up the most extensive array of titles you can play at PlayNow. Unlike live casino games, these all appear as free-play games, and gambling on them can see you rapidly climb the Encore Rewards program. The top slots you can play at PlayNow are relatively the same as other leading casinos. Notable ones at PlayNow include Beetlejuice: MegaWays, Extra Chilli: MegaWays, Kitty Glitter, Medusa II Jackpot, and Spartacus, among others.

PlayNow Casino Live Dealer Games

One set of games you can’t enjoy free play action on is live casino titles. Evolution Gaming provides the bulk of the mainstream titles, although you can choose options from other providers.

Options include some of the best online blackjack in Canada, baccarat, Texas hold ’em poker and other table poker titles, and many fan favorite games such as Lightning Roulette, Dream Wheeler, and more.

Casino Software

PlayNow has opted for different gaming providers from some of the other big casinos catering to Canadians. Instead of opting for the usual Microgaming and NetEnt mix of titles to play, PlayNow has chosen to feature titles from some of the most prominent land-based gaming software developers around. Free and fun, but also real titles come from IGT, BallyTech, Big Time Gaming, Blueprint Gaming and more.

Mobile Compatibility & Apps

You can manage to play at PlayNow using either your web browser or a dedicated app. Like all modern casinos, you need nothing more than a browser to play at PlayNow using your phone or tablet, as the site is designed in HTML5. There are apps you can use to play if you want to, though.

However, there is a poker app; there are sports betting options and more available. PlayNow is home to the WSOP Montreal satellite, too, so betting at the casino via the app may interest pros as well as amateur Canadian gamblers. The poker application features all manner of exciting options, including Rake Race, Bad Beat Jackpot, and tournament options. New Canadian bettors also have access to a poker school of sorts. Be warned, though; the PlayNow poker app can only be downloaded to play on Windows. That’s surprising, to say the least.

Payment Options

Most of the payment options found at PlayNow are in with those at other Canadian casinos. Expect to see VISA, American Express, MasterCard, Interac, PayPal, WebCash and online bill payment services available. Of course, Canadian dollars can be used with all these options.

Deposit Methods

Deposit rules are in line with the gambling laws of the province of British Columbia. The online casino only accepts verified credit card options and the methods listed above.

To avoid problem gambling issues, you can set deposit limits. You can also view your deposit and account history at any time. As touched on, the BCLC takes problem gambling seriously, so be sure to use those deposit caps. There are no added fees for depositing into your PlayNow account, and deposits should land instantly. This enables fast play without delay.

Withdrawal Methods

Most (albeit not all) of the deposit methods can be used to cash out your winnings at PlayNow. The online casino adheres to legal online gambling rules, as specified. This means that winnings worth under C$100,000 will be sent via wire transfer to your bank. Winnings of that sum are sent via cheques.

Players may not “store” more than C$9,999 in their accounts. Therefore, the site will automatically cash out those winnings for you if you manage to get your balance over this limit and if it is not withdrawn within 72 hours. There should be no added fees for withdrawals, and transaction times can take a couple of days.

Of course, PlayNow wants you to clear their KYC process before withdrawals are processed. You will need to provide proof of identity, residence, and payment before you can clear this hurdle. Fortunately, the entire process only lasts less than 24 hours. After that, you can cash out to your heart’s content at PlayNow Casino.

Customer Support

A little extra education always helps, and at PlayNow, you can get that via customer support. Whether your question is about slots, poker, fun, free play games or real titles, the casino is there to help.

You can reach out to the PlayNow team via telephone (1-877-706-6789), live chat, or e-mail. You can also use an FAQ guide to obtain assistance when you play there.

Casino Security & Fairness

PlayNow is a casino where winning is a reality. Winning on a game is made easier because the titles are fair. They are RNG-certified to ensure that nothing is rigged when you play. Furthermore, slots at the site are available in free play modes like at other casinos. This allows you to play and gain experience with titles before you wager real cash on them.

Canadians are playing at a locally licensed casino here. PlayNow is operated and run out of BC. The region regulates it, and this makes it about as legal as it is possible to get for a Canadian site.

Several other security features also exist. There is a KYC process and protocols in place to make it difficult for those suffering from problem gambling issues to relapse. For instance, those who have voluntarily self-excluded themselves from the domain but complete their cool-down period before they are let back in.

Responsible Gambling

As a proper, legal Canadian site, you can expect the works when it comes to responsible gambling tools. Not only is the site affiliated with a problem gambling helpline, but the BCLC-owned and operated casino also offers voluntary self-exclusion tools, and once you’ve voluntarily self-excluded, you can’t get back in until that period is over. Regular reviews (from Canadians who play there) also point to other handy tools, not least deposit and wager caps for you to manage, but histories and more.

PlayNow Casino Conclusion

At the end of our review, we’ve got to praise PlayNow. Here is a casino that offers top Encore Rewards and makes it truly rewarding to play. It is a site that is owned and regulated in British Columbia and is one of the most trusted casinos in Canada to play at.

If you were to manage to sign up to any Canadian casino right now, we’d strongly suggest that you consider BCLC PlayNow.