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. Guests at its weekly entertainment need to be 19 or over and must show government-issued photo ID. Dates for those nights appear on the casino's own events page.

Your answers stay in this tab

Three panels at the door

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

You
The scan
Verdict

Each guest presents government-issued photo ID on arrival, and nobody under 19 is let in. Cards that appear 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

Entry to any B.C. casino requires government-issued photo ID; security staff scan it and match it to the list of people refused admission, including people in Game Break. 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

Each person walking into a B.C. casino has been asked for government-issued photo ID on arrival since June 26, 2023. 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. The voluntary self-exclusion program called Game Break is operated by BCLC. 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.
Proof of Canadian status or residency: a permanent resident card, a Canadian citizenship card, the Canadian identity card that Global Affairs Canada issues, or a Certificate of Indian Status card in its secure form.
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