Help and method
Gambling help and this guide
Help with gambling in British Columbia answers the phone day and night, at no cost. The second half of this page explains how the Chart editors check the facts in this guide.
By the Chart editorsChecked October 13, 2026
Where to get help
- Gambling Support BC answers at 1-888-795-6111, 24/7, at no cost to any BC resident, including people affected by a loved one's gambling. A navigator helps right away, finds local services or connects the caller to a counsellor, and the website is gamblingsupportbc.ca.
- Game Break is BCLC's voluntary self-exclusion program, with terms of 6 months, 1 year, 2 years or 3 years. Enrolment happens in person at a gaming facility or in an online meeting with a BCLC employee.
- Casino Nanaimo has a GameSense Info Centre on site. A GameSense Advisor is available in every casino in BC.
- Everyone entering a B.C. casino shows government-issued photo ID, a rule in place since June 26, 2023. Security scans it and checks it against the list of people restricted from entering, such as those enrolled in Game Break.
Setting a limit before a visit
Before a visit, decide how much time and how much money to spend. Bring that amount and leave bank and credit cards at home, so the limit stays fixed. Take regular breaks away from the floor and keep an eye on the clock. When the time or the money is used up, the visit is over. The minimum age for gambling in British Columbia is 19, for casinos and online play, and people under 19 may not enter gambling venues.
About the Chart editors
The Nanaimo Casino Chart is written and signed collectively by the Chart editors. That name stands for the editorial team, not a person. No page carries a personal byline, and the site has no named author.
Facts in the guide were checked on October 13, 2026. The sources were Casino Nanaimo's own pages, BCLC's casino listing, BC Ferries, BC Transit open data and the Government of British Columbia. Distances are straight lines between map coordinates from OpenStreetMap, so roads and ferry routes are longer. Ferry schedules and fares are left to bcferries.com because they change.
The guide has no forms, comments or accounts, so readers never type anything into it. It keeps nothing about readers except the colour theme chosen in the browser tab.
Questions from the dock
Is Gambling Support BC open at night?
The line at 1-888-795-6111 is open 24/7 at no cost to any BC resident. A navigator answers and can help right away, including people worried about a loved one's gambling.
Can a Game Break term be shortened?
A Game Break term cannot be changed once it is chosen. The options are 6 months, 1 year, 2 years or 3 years, so the length is worth deciding with care.
Who writes this guide?
The guide is written and signed collectively by the Chart editors. No page carries a personal byline, and the site has no named author.