Lottery schemes are permitted by a licence under the Criminal Code of Canada to eligible charitable or not-for-profit organizations only. The Lottery Licence Policy Manual, Order in Council 1413/08, and Lottery Licence Terms and Conditions are part of the charity gaming regulatory framework which flows from the Criminal Code. Lottery Licences are not available for private functions or individuals to fundraise for personal reasons, even if the intention is to give the proceeds to charity.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) is responsible for administering the lottery licensing program in the Province of Ontario. The AGCO and Municipalities are responsible for issuing lottery licences to eligible charitable and religious organizations. The AGCO licences online gaming in Ontario such as electronic 50/50 Draws. In December 2021, the AGCO announced a new Progressive Jackpot Raffle opportunity under the blanket raffle licence and a free Social Gaming Licence.
| Application Process |
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Each application is unique. Determinations of eligibility will depend on the specific organization and its proposed use of proceeds.
- The following pre-requisites are mandatory to be considered eligible for a lottery licence:
- An organization must have been in existence for at least one (1) year before being considered eligible for lottery licences.
- An organization must have a place of business in Ontario, demonstrate that it is established to provide charitable services in Ontario, and use proceeds for objects or purposes which benefit Ontario residents.
- Please provide all the required documents outlined in the new Lottery Licence Application Procedure and allow for a minimum of ten (10) business days for the Township to process all lottery licence applications.
- Lottery license fees are set by the AGCO. The fee for the licence will be 3% of the total value of prizes to be awarded and can be paid upon pick up of the licence. Please complete and submit the appropriate application form to the Township's Licensing Officer.
- The Township of North Dumfries has licensing authority for the following list and may attach terms and conditions to a licence.
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| What is Required to Determine Eligibility? |
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When an organization applies for a lottery licence, the following documents or information are required so that eligibility can be reviewed:
- Incorporation Papers (Letters Patent)
- Constitution and By-Laws
- Notification of Charitable Registration (Canada Customs and Revenue Agency) (if applicable)
- The most recent Registered Charity Information Return & Public Information Return, as submitted to Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (if applicable)
- Financial Statement for Previous Fiscal Year (audited, where applicable)
- Detailed outline of all programs/services provided in the previous year and specific costs incurred in delivery
- Detailed outline of all programs/service currently provided and specific costs incurred in delivery
- The current operating budget
- Current Listing of the Board of Directors
- Any other information that will assist in determining the charitable nature of the objects and purposes. This could include an annual report, correspondence relating to its charitable number for income-tax purposes, and confirmation that it meets the reporting requirements of the Charities Accounting Act
- The proposed use of proceeds, which must be consistent with the primary objects and purposes of the organization and of a charitable nature consistent with at least one of the four classifications of charitable purposes.
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Types of Lottery Schemes
| Bazaars |
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A bazaar is a sale of goods held to raise money for a charity. Municipalities may issue licences to allow eligible organizations to conduct and manage lottery events in conjunction with a bazaar, provided the lottery events are ancillary to the bazaar itself. Additional information for Bazaars.
Three (3) types of lottery events are permitted at bazaars:
- wheels of fortune
- bingo
- raffles and penny auction raffles.
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| Bingo |
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Bingo is a game of chance where players are awarded a prize or prizes for being the first to complete a specified arrangement of numbers on bingo paper, based on numbers selected at random. Additional information for Bingo.
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| Break Open Tickets |
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“Break open tickets” are instant-win lottery tickets, commonly known as “pull tab” or “nevada” tickets
and the brand name “Pocket Slots.” Break open tickets:
- are made of cardboard;
- have one or more perforated cover window tabs that conceal winning and losing numbers or symbols;
- are played by tearing off the cover tabs; and
- also include seal cards and bingo event tickets.
Additional information for Break Open Tickets.
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| Raffles |
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A raffle is a lottery scheme where tickets are sold for a chance to win a prize in a draw. The different types of raffle schemes are usually identified by the method of determining the winner. Raffle prizes may consist of merchandise or cash, or a combination of the two. Additional information for Raffles.
Paper Based 50/50 Draws
Tickets for paper-based 50/50 draws may only be sold during scheduled time periods, such as sporting events. Since the actual prize for each draw cannot be determined before the draw date, the organization must indicate the maximum possible prize on the licence application. The maximum prize must not exceed half the revenue available if all the tickets authorized by the licence were sold at the scheduled time. The licensee may only award prizes based on a 50/50 split of the gross proceeds for a given draw. The licensee must not award any additional prizes under a paper-based 50/50 lottery licence. The licensing authority may issue a licence allowing an organization to hold more than one paper-based 50/50 draw over a specified time period, provided that there is a separate draw for each scheduled time during the licence period.
Blanket Raffles
A blanket raffle licence allows eligible organizations to obtain a single lottery licence to conduct and manage more than one type of raffle event within a fixed time period (for up to a maximum of a one-year period), from one location, and in which the total value of prizes does not exceed $50,000.
The types of raffle events that a licensee may conduct under a blanket raffle licence include:
- stub draws
- elimination draws
- paper-based 50/50 draws
- meat spins/turkey rolls
- “name the raffle” lottery
| Amendments to a Raffle Licence |
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A licensee must conduct a raffle lottery in accordance with its licence application and the terms and
conditions of the licence. However, if it is in the public interest to do so, a licensing authority may issue
an amendment to a licence it has issued. A licensing authority may also refuse a licence amendment
request. A licensee must not change the way it is conducting and managing an event unless it has first
obtained a licence amendment.
The licensing authority must consider requests for licence amendments on a case-by-case basis. The
licensing authority is under no obligation to issue an amendment solely because it has previously issued an amendment under the same or similar conditions. Amendments must not be granted solely on the expectation of loss.
The licensee must apply for a licence amendment in writing before any tickets have been sold under the licence. The licensing authority will not grant amendments after ticket sales have begun. Expired licences may not be amended or cancelled.
If changes to the licence application package are made before submission to the licensing authority, each
change must be initialled, on each document, by the individual(s) with signing authority for the applicant.
Requests for amendments to information already submitted to the licensing authority by way of
completed application package must be made in writing on the applicant organization’s letterhead and
signed by the individual(s) authorized to bind the applicant. Any supporting records must be provided.
The licensing authority will only consider amending a raffle licence when it has discussed the reasons for
the request with the licensee and established that the amendment is in the public interest.
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| Requests to Cancel a Raffle Licence |
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An organization licensed to conduct a Raffle event may request to have its licence cancelled at any time, provided that no tickets have been sold. Any such request must be made in writing to the licensing authority and must state that no sales have taken place.
In the interests of consumer protection, a licence may not be cancelled once sales have begun except under the following conditions:
- all ticket purchasers must sign a disclaimer indicating that they have no objections to the lottery being cancelled; and
- the licensee must contact all ticket purchasers and refund the ticket purchase price.
The request to cancel must be made in writing to the applicable licensing authority with an explanation of why the licensee is making the request.
Unless all ticket purchasers agree to the above conditions, the licensee must conduct the lottery event as originally set out in the application for licence.
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For more information on Lottery Licensing please visit the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. All lottery licence applications and reports can be returned to the Township's Licensing Officerat the Township Administration Office.
