Overview
The Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch regulates all gaming in British Columbia, ensures
the integrity of gaming industry companies, people and equipment, and investigates allegations
of wrongdoing. This includes regulatory oversight of the
British
Columbia Lottery Corporation
(which conducts and manages lotteries, casinos, community gaming centres and commercial bingo halls),
B.C.'s horse racing industry and licensed gaming events. The Branch also manages responsible and problem
gambling programs and distributes gaming funds to community organizations.
The Branch:
- Develops and manages gaming policy, legislation and standards;
- Regulates all aspects of the gaming industry;
- Licenses charitable gaming events and horse racing;
- Oversees horse racing events, determining the outcome of each race and adjudicating any related matters;
- Registers gaming service providers and gaming workers, and approves and certifies gaming
equipment and lottery schemes;
- Conducts audits of charitable and commercial gaming activities to ensure compliance;
- Investigates all alleged contraventions of B.C.'s Gaming Control Act and investigates, in
cooperation with law enforcement, all alleged contraventions of relevant sections of Canada's Criminal Code;
- Manages the distribution of government's gaming proceeds, including grants to community organizations,
local governments and the horse racing industry;
- Manages the Province's Responsible Gambling Strategy, including the Problem Gambling Program, in
order to minimize harm and promote responsible gambling practices.
For a full review of this year's goals and objectives, refer to the Gaming Policy and
Enforcement Branch's current annual business plan (business plans are available
on the Reports, Publications and Statistics page).
Descriptions of each of the six divisions of the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, including
the responsibilities of each division, are listed below.
Policy, Responsible Gambling and Business Services Division
Develops and maintains a rigorous and transparent policy and regulatory environment for gaming
and horse racing in British Columbia, balancing economic benefits with associated social issues,
while supporting public safety.
Provides sound financial advice to the Branch executive, effectively administering budgets and
recoveries, providing effective and efficient systems, telecommunications and information support
and effectively managing all Branch facilities, vehicles and records.
Responsibilities:
- Advise Minister on broad policy, standards and regulatory issues;
- Develop, manage and maintain government's gaming legislation, regulations,
policies, standards, and directives;
- Ensure the legal and regulatory framework supports government's policies and
objectives for the gaming industry;
- Establish industry-wide, public interest standards for gaming operations (e.g.,
security and surveillance, responsible gambling, advertising, conflict of interest);
- Coordinate Freedom of Information requests on behalf of the Branch;
- Develop and implement initiatives to enhance public safety and reduce social harms
in the gambling industry;
- Administer the Responsible Gambling Strategy, including the Problem Gambling Program,
and ensure clinical and prevention services are in place for problem gamblers;
- Develop and manage Branch financial and administrative policies, standards, procedures,
controls and systems;
- Develop and monitor the overall Branch budget, preparing accurate and timely
annual budget estimates, forecasts and analysis of trends and variances;
- Ensure effective management of Branch funds, assets and resources (including
trust funds and distribution of gaming revenues) in accordance with all statutory,
regulatory, and policy requirements, and Branch priorities;
- Develop and manage the information technology requirements of the Branch;
- Collaborate with the Information Technology Service Division (ITSD) in the
development of plans for future technology to meet changing business needs, and
participate in information technology projects;
- Provide management information systems for the timely production and management
of corporate data and information required for decision making and planning;
- Provide expert advice concerning personnel functions, including labour relations,
health and safety, employment equity and training;
- Ensure compliance with human resource policies, collective agreements and
central agency directives; and
- Manage facilities planning and management for the Branch.
Internal Compliance and Risk Management Division
The Internal Compliance and Risk Management Division is responsible for
the development and maintenance of an accountability and evaluation framework for
gaming in B.C., and monitoring and reporting compliance with that framework. This
includes, but is not limited to: management of a comprehensive approach for
identifying risks, and identifying opportunities and processes to mitigate
those risks, within the Branch and B.C.'s gaming industry; staff whistleblower
and public complaints programs; and comprehensive internal compliance processes
to ensure the Branch and its employees fulfill expectations and avoid non-compliance.
Responsibilities:
- Establish, maintain and monitor an accountability and evaluation
framework for the Branch that includes risk management practices for the
Branch and the gaming industry;
- Establish a whistleblower policy that allows and encourages staff to
come forward with reports of alleged wrongdoing, in confidence and without
fear of reprisal;
- Establish and implement an internal audit framework that is integrated
with the Branch's risk management process and risk tolerance framework;
- Develop clear accountability guidelines, evaluation measurements and
reporting mechanisms for both risk identification and compliance mechanisms;
- Direct audits or reviews of the gaming industry and Branch programs
and divisions to ensure compliance with legislation, value for money and
quality service;
- Develop an approach that allows more comprehensive, independent
reviews and audits of broader aspects of the gaming industry;
- Ensure that recommended changes or actions are incorporated into
Branch programs to strengthen accountability and evaluation frameworks;
- Develop and communicate compliance policies and guidelines for staff
and provide education sessions on a regular basis; and
- Develop and implement a program for receiving and responding to
external/public complaints and establish a mechanism for timely review
of these complaints with a commitment towards improvement.
Licensing and Grants Division
Distributes gaming grants to community organizations through the Direct Access and Bingo
Affiliation programs, and issues gaming event licenses to charitable and religious organizations
in a manner consistent with gaming legislation, directives and policies.
Responsibilities:
- Manage and evaluate all policies relating to the issuance of gaming event licenses;
- Manage and evaluate all policies and programs relating to the administration of gaming
grant programs (Direct Access and Bingo Affiliation), to ensure equitable funding access
for all eligible organizations;
- Ensure gaming grants and gaming event licenses are issued in accordance with current
policies and in a timely manner;
- Determine which community organizations are eligible for a gaming event license or
gaming grant, establish limits and, where appropriate, attach additional conditions or
deny license or grant request;
- Decide on community organizations' requests for reconsideration of initial decisions
regarding the issuance of licenses;
- Maintain an effective process to respond to gaming audits;
- Enhance community awareness of requirements for licensed gaming events; and
- Work with the other divisions to resolve any matters that could impact the integrity of gaming.
Racing Division
Regulates horse racing through the development of fair and appropriate rules of horse racing,
effective management of race events, and the participation of suitable employees and horses.
Responsibilities:
- Create and implement policies to ensure the integrity of horse racing;
- Monitor and enforce the Rules of Thoroughbred and Standardbred Racing, the Gaming
Control Act and the Gaming Control Regulation with respect to horse racing, and
recommend amendments as necessary;
- Approve race dates;
- Monitor the activities of track officials and employees that participate in
the conduct of a race meet;
- Ensure safety and security on race track grounds;
- Oversee and review each race run in British Columbia and ensure each race is
run in an honest, fair and consistent manner;
- Provide supervision and control of horse race meets to determine race
winners/finishers and adjudicate on any matter related to horse racing;
- Investigate and adjudicate matters arising from race meets, including:
- Random backstretch searches to ensure the Rules, Regulations, and Gaming
Control Act are being adhered to by licensees; and
- Investigations of suspected violations of the Rules, Regulations and
Gaming Control Act, and assess penalties where appropriate;
- Ensure all adjudications and penalties have a legal basis and are
administratively fair and consistent;
- Develop screening criteria and tests for assessing competencies of licence
applicants for various racing categories;
- Work with other jurisdictions, nationally and internationally, to
identify problem individuals;
- Investigate all applicants' racing history to ensure their suitability to
acquire a horse racing licence;
- Issue horse racing licences or, for licences requiring registration, issue
the licence and registration pending a recommendation by the Registration Division;
- Hold licensees accountable for their actions; and
- Conduct an annual review of all race track and teletheatre licences to ensure
compliance with the terms and conditions of that licence.
Registration and Certification Division
Ensures the integrity of organizations, employees and equipment involved in the B.C.
gaming industry, by registering gaming services providers and gaming workers, and approving
and certifying gaming equipment and lottery schemes.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct thorough and timely background investigations of gaming services providers
and gaming workers in an independent, fair and confidential manner;
- Conduct clearance investigations of designated employees of the Branch who are
responsible for the oversight and regulation of gaming;
- Conduct clearance investigations of designated appointees and employees of the
BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) who are responsible for the management, conduct or
presentation of gaming;
- Conduct due diligence background investigations of companies and persons seeking
approval to provide goods and/or services to the gaming and horse racing sectors
in British Columbia;
- Collect and account for registration fees and registration deposits received
from applicants for registration;
- Issue sanctions and penalties against applicants and registrants for matters
of integrity and non-compliance;
- Conduct reconsideration hearings in relation to registration sanctions and penalties;
- Work cooperatively with other Branch divisions to ensure a rigorous and
cohesive regulatory structure;
- Work cooperatively with other gaming jurisdictions to ensure the integrity
of background investigations for registration;
- Review ownership, lease agreements and sources of proposed financing involving
new locations and relocations of gaming venues;
- Review proposed changes in directors, officers, partners or associates, or
the intended acquisition or disposition of shares or securities, and approve or
deny the intended changes;
- Maintain accurate records of all costs associated with background investigations and
ensure all expenses are covered by the deposits obtained from registration applicants;
- Certify and/or approve gaming equipment and lottery schemes, including internet gaming;
- Work cooperatively with BCLC to ensure industry and public confidence in gaming through
the approval and certification program for gaming equipment;
- Maintain a register of gaming services providers and gaming workers;
- Protect criminal records information and databases by adhering to strict security
procedures and confidentiality standards; and
- Maintain applicants/registrants corporate and personal information in a
confidential manner consistent with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Audit and Compliance Division
Maintains a comprehensive audit strategy for commercial gaming (including horse racing),
licensed gaming, and community organizations' use of gaming proceeds (from licensed gaming
events or gaming grants) to ensure compliance with all applicable legislation, regulation,
policies and directives.
Responsibilities:
- Establish and maintain an audit framework, audit and inspection standards, and policies
and procedures for all gaming operations and the use of gaming funds (commercial gaming,
including horse racing, licensed gaming and gaming grants);
- Ensure licensees, grant recipients, service providers and the BC Lottery Corporation
(BCLC) comply with all audit and compliance requirements;
- Ensure commercial gaming, including horse racing and licensed gaming events are
conducted in compliance with gaming legislation, directives, policies and procedures;
- Subject all gaming sites, licensees and grant recipients to a routine audit, as scheduled
or as circumstances require. Commercial sites will receive ongoing review and assessment;
- Ensure industry and public confidence in the audit and compliance aspects of commercial
and licensed gaming events, and in the use of gaming proceeds;
- Review and monitor BCLC's operational audit program. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Developing audit standards and schedules for independent and confidential audits
of BCLC's compliance programs for its contracted service providers;
- Monitoring compliance with reporting requirements by reviewing incident reports; and
- Auditing BCLC's audit and compliance program.
- Where incidents affecting integrity are identified during an audit, work in consultation
with other divisions of the Branch (Registration, Racing, Investigation, Licensing and
Grants) to achieve compliance;
- Respond to complaints from:
- The public, regarding activities that may compromise the integrity of gaming; and
- BCLC, pertaining to non-compliance by a service provider.
- Develop and deliver programs to enhance gaming grants recipients' compliance with
gaming legislation, regulation and policies. This includes:
- Ensuring recipients of gaming funds understand the conditions of their gaming
license or grant, including accounting, reporting and use of proceeds; and
- Providing recommendations for solutions or sanctions for non-compliant
licensees, grant recipients, and registrants.
- Ensure the Branch maintains appropriate internal compliance processes to optimize
business practices within acceptable risk-based parameters; and
- Identify policies or procedures that are inefficient or inhibit productivity, and
recommend changes to the Assistant Deputy Minister.
Investigations and Regional Operations Division
Investigates, or assists law enforcement agencies in the investigation of, all
complaints or allegations of criminal or regulatory wrongdoing in gaming and horse
racing in the province.
Responsibilities:
- Implement the Province's Illegal Gambling Enforcement Strategy;
- Investigate complaints and allegations of wrongdoing in gaming and horse
racing in the province for the purpose of enhancing prosecution outcomes in
administrative hearings and the courts by:
- Conducting all investigations, including interviews, document examinations
and evidence collections, in a professional, thorough, timely and lawful manner; and
- Preparing all court documents in a professional and comprehensive manner, consistent
with the Criminal Code of Canada, the Gaming Control Act, the Charter of Rights and
Freedoms and other lawful authorities.
- Conduct internal investigations in relation to allegations of wrongdoing;
- Conduct all post-registration licensing and clearance investigations in relation
to allegations of wrongdoing;
- Investigate illegal gambling activity in cooperation with law enforcement agencies;
- Provide support and assistance in the prosecution of regulatory and criminal offences;
- Prosecute Ticket Violation Disputes, as required;
- Prepare extensive and accurate Reports of Findings and forward to the appropriate Branch
Division to enable fair and appropriate administrative decisions;
- Provide gaming expertise, proceeds of crime assistance, and forensic audit support
to law enforcement agencies throughout the province for the purpose of enhancing enforcement
of illegal gambling activity;
- Maintain strong relationships with the RCMP and other police departments to identify
potential suspects involved in unlawful activity in gaming;
- Work cooperatively with the gaming industry, other gaming agencies, law enforcement
and other regulatory bodies to identify unlawful activity, and conduct timely and thorough investigations;
- Ensure all complainants are advised of the outcome of complaints in a timely manner
to enhance public confidence in the integrity of gaming;
- Gather and maintain intelligence concerning the extent, type, and nature of unlawful
activity in gaming and horse racing; and
- Identify trends in unlawful gaming activity by tracking complaints and allegations.
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