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 10, 2026
Is 19 the minimum age in BC?
Yes, 19 is the minimum age in British Columbia. The same limit covers both casinos and online gambling.
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 membership card from a First Nations, Métis or Inuit band, or the card called the Secure Certificate of Indian Status
- Foreign ID issued by a government, or the Canadian identity card from Global Affairs Canada
- Age: 19 or older for any casino in BC.
- Photo ID on BCLC's list: Driver's licence (B.C. or North American); Passport (Canadian or international); B.C. Identity Card (BCID); Canadian citizenship card; B.C. Services Card (with photo); Secure Certificate of Indian Status; Permanent resident card; Canadian ID card from Global Affairs Canada; Band membership card (First Nations, Métis or Inuit); 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 staff scan the ID and check it against the names of people barred from entering. From June 26, 2023, anyone who enters a B.C. casino has had to show photo ID issued by a government. People enrolled in Game Break, a program explained later on this page, are among those names.
Someone on the restricted list does not get past that point. No personal information is stored by the system about guests who are allowed inside. B.C. was the first place in North America to demand ID at casino entrances.
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. Terms range from 6 months up to 3 years, with 1 year and 2 years also possible, and the pick is final.
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, international passports are among the accepted kinds of 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 staff scan the ID and match it against the list of people not allowed inside. Nothing personal is saved by the system about guests who get in.
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.