The Canadian province of British Columbia is warning international online gambling operators to stay off the provincial gambling monopoly’s turf.

Late last month, the British Columbia Gaming Policy Enforcement Branch (GPEB) sent a letter to the CEOs of 19 different online gambling operators who accept wagers from BC residents, warning them that their activities are “likely to be contrary to both the Criminal Code of Canada and the Gaming Control Act.”

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by eGaming Review, claims that only the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) “may conduct, manage or operate a lottery scheme in BC” and no other entity is allowed to dip its toe into BC’s gambling pool without the GPEB’s say-so.

(It’s worth noting that BC’s self-serving interpretation of the Criminal Code isn’t shared by many legal observers, who have argued that international sites are on safe legal footing as long as they maintain no physical presence within Canada.)