The issue of online gambling is both complicated and contentious in today’s world, but we have recently seen a very interesting step forwards. The Canadian province of British Columbia has launched a government-run online casino this month, which is the first of its kind in North America, and possibly heralds the way for positive change.

PlayNow.com is run by the British Columbia Lottery Commission and features all of the casino classics that you would find elsewhere on the web, such as blackjack, roulette, craps and even sportsbetting. The online casino is available only to those who are currently residing in BC and are 19 years of age or older. While there are certainly many other online casinos, this government-run option is a positive initiative and so if you are in the mood for gambling, please do stop by and support it.

There’s a lot of heat involved when any movement by government is seen as pro-gambling, and this is certainly no exception. There have been cries of protest from those who feel that problem gamblers are being failed by the system in this latest move, and Shane Simpson of the New Democratic Party cautions that there are many issues to consider, pointing out that government has a “higher responsibility than private operators elsewhere to ensure we are protecting people.”

While issues with problem gambling certainly should not be pushed to the sidelines, it’s not as if there is currently a shortage of online gambling possibilities already available, as Canada’s Housing and Social Development Minister comments. “The hard reality is this; that activity is not going away.” In light of this, the financial incentives are simply too great to pass up for governments desperately seeking to cover costs. “British Columbia may be the first jurisdiction in North America to offer games but I can predict that it won’t be the last.”

How this latest development will reverberate through the poker world remains to be seen. PlayNow.com itself looks set to start offering poker next year, and we can only hope that in so doing it provides an effective precedent for other governments to follow. Just recently we have seen in France how badly poor regulation can effect poker, but hopefully lawmakers will learn from their international peers’ mistakes and implement a system that is both safe and functional for players and casinos alike.

It is great to see a government body taking such big steps forward towards providing safe and regulated places for people to gamble online, rather than turning a blind eye to the issue or, worse still, attempting to stamp it out entirely. With any luck this positive attitude will be felt throughout the online gambling and poker world over the coming years, and a more agreeable situation can be created for all involved.