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For games of chance, no amount of thinking, planning or strategizing will have an impact on the outcome. Each play is totally random and completely unpredictable. Your choices don’t influence your likelihood of winning. 

Sure, you can decide how much to bet or where to place your bets, however different games offer different odds and there is nothing you, as a player, can do to influence the outcome. For this reason, it’s essential to understand how games of chance work before you play them. The more you know, the more fun you’ll have. And remember: you’re always in control of how much to bet, how often you play and for how long.

Before you even start, it’s a good idea to set limits on how much time you would like to play for and determine a budget to keep within your spending limits.

Games of chance include:

  • The lottery
  • Slot machines
  • Baccarat
  • Roulette
  • Craps

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You can’t ‘wing it’ and expect to win. In games of skill it is possible to improve your chances of winning by learning more about the game or by developing skills as a player. This is because players must make decisions that can affect the outcome of the game. It doesn’t mean you have to be an expert before you play, but it’s good to know how the games work before you sit down.  All casinos in B.C. have a GameSense Info Centre that provide players with more information about how the games work and additional tools and resources to help keep your gambling fun. At select locations, a GameSense Advisor can help guide you through the basics of the games.

Games that involve skill: 

  • Blackjack
  • Fortune Pai Gow Poker
  • Poker

But don’t forget, chance still plays a big part in games involving skill. You can’t control the cards that will come up next or what numbers the dice will show, so the games are still unpredictable and impossible to beat out. And in every form of gambling, the house has the advantage. 

Tips so you don't lose your shirt

Rules that rule

For some games it is possible to improve your chances of winning by learning more about the game or by developing your skills as a player. But don’t be fooled, chance still plays a big part. No matter your skill level, you still can’t control the hand you’re dealt. The best players in the world know when it’s time to fold.

  • Play for fun, not to make money
  • Set a budget before you start
  • Know how the game works and what the odds are before playing
  • Don’t chase losses
  • Balance gambling with other activities
  • Take breaks
  • Set a time limit
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Our operations span the entirety of the province that we now call British Columbia. We respectfully acknowledge that we are guests in the territories of more than 200 First Nations, each with unique traditions, cultures, and histories. We are grateful to these First Nations caretakers for their stewardship of these lands and waters since time immemorial. 

BCLC is committed to establishing and maintaining good relations with all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people in British Columbia and beyond. Our journey has only recently begun, and we have a lot of work to do in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples to understand the Truth, reconcile the past, and truly generate win-wins for the greater good, together.

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