The ID Scan at the Casino Door
Every visit to Starlight Casino in Queensborough starts with an ID check at the door. This page explains what security does with your card, which kinds of ID work, and why the rule applies to everyone.
The page is short and plain. The aim is simple: no surprises when you arrive.
What Happens at the Door
Since June 26, 2023, every person entering a B.C. casino must show government-issued photo ID. That includes Starlight Casino in New Westminster. A security staff member scans the card at the entrance. The legal age for gambling in British Columbia is 19, so that is part of the picture too.
The scan checks your ID against a list of people restricted from entering. Some of those people enrolled in Game Break, which is BCLC's voluntary self-exclusion program. Self-exclusion means a person has asked to be kept out of casinos. For guests who are let in, the system does not save personal information.
British Columbia was the first jurisdiction in North America to require ID at the casino door. If the step feels unfamiliar from trips elsewhere, that is the reason.
ID That Works at the Door
- A B.C. or other North American driver's licence
- A B.C. Identity Card, also called a BCID
- A B.C. Services Card
- A Canadian or international passport
- A Canadian citizenship card
- A Canadian permanent resident card
- A Secure Certificate of Indian Status card
- A Canadian identity card issued by Global Affairs Canada
- A membership card issued by a First Nations, Metis or Inuit band
- Government-issued ID from another country
Why the Check Exists
The scan exists for one main reason. Some people have asked to be kept out of casinos, and the check helps them stay out. Without it, a person enrolled in Game Break could still walk in on a hard day.
Nobody at the door is singling you out. Every guest goes through the same step, whatever their age. Enrolment in Game Break happens in person at any casino, community gaming centre or commercial bingo hall, with government-issued photo ID.
Does the door scan keep a guest's information?
Not if you are let in. For guests who are let in, the system does not save personal information. The scan checks your ID against the list of people restricted from entering, and that is its job.
Which ID works for visitors from abroad?
A passport works, Canadian or international. Government-issued foreign ID is accepted as well. Keep in mind that the legal age in British Columbia is 19, which may differ from home.
Why is a 40-year-old guest asked for ID?
Everyone is scanned, at every age. The check is not only about being 19 or older. It also looks for people on the restricted list, so no guest skips it.