If you are planning an event that includes a lottery, raffle, bingo, etc. you may be required to obtain a lottery licence from the Municipality. Below you will find some select information you need to know before considering a lottery. For full details, visit: Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario or contact the Clerk's Department at (613) 984-2821.
Below please find a Lottery Training Session facilitated by the Township of North Stormont, which took place Sept. 19, 2024 in Moose Creek. The session contains an in-depth presentation provided by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
A license is required even for charity raffles or bingos. The price of the ticket or card has no bearing on whether a license is required. The municipality can grant licenses for:
- bingo events, with prize boards of up to $5,500;
- media bingo events with prizes up to $5,500;
- break open tickets for local organizations;
- raffle lotteries for total prizes of $50,000 and under; and,
- bazaar lotteries which include: wheels of fortune with a maximum bet of $2.00, raffles not exceeding $500, and bingo events up to $500.
In addition to an application for lottery licensing eligibility form, an approved lottery-specific application is required. Below you will find a number of lottery-specific applications:
- Bingo Lottery Application
- Raffle Lottery Application
- Break Open Ticket Application
- Blanket Raffle Application
Once completed, please bring both forms to the Municipal Office for processing. The Township of North Stormont requires a minimum of 7 days processing time and 30 days for first-time licensees.
Fees:
- Raffle & Blanket Raffle – Three per cent of total prize value or minimum of $35
- Nevada – Three per cent of total prize value or minimum of $35
- Bingo – $5 per event or minimum of $35.
- Bazaar – $35
A lottery report must be completed for lottery licenses issued for previous events before a new license can be issued.
- Bingo Lottery Reports
- Raffle Lottery Report
- Break Open Ticket Lottery Report
- Blanket Raffle Lottery Report
For further information for lotteries in Ontario, visit the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario website.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Charitable gaming” refers to lottery schemes permitted by a licence under the Criminal Code of Canada. Typically these may include bingos, raffles, break open tickets, and bazaar gaming events held by charitable and religious organizations.
Charitable organizations are regulated by licensing policies and the terms and conditions of the licences issued by the province or municipalities under the authority of an Order-in Council. The commercial sector of the charitable gaming industry is regulated by the Gaming Control Act, 1992 and accompanying Regulations.
A “lottery scheme” may be defined as any scheme that has the following three components:
- a prize;
- a chance to win the prize; and,
- a consideration or fee.
Therefore, if money is paid or other consideration is given for a chance to win the prize then it is considered to be a lottery scheme.
However, there are many types of lottery schemes for which licences are not available. Promotional contests that are carried out by companies to promote products and increase sales cannot be licensed to operate a lottery because they are not charitable. For that reason, a company must ensure that the contest does not fall within the definition of a lottery scheme.
Canada’s Criminal Code permits charitable and religious organizations to conduct a lottery scheme to raise funds once a license is issued. Organizations must have a demonstrated charitable or religious mandate to qualify. Charitable refers to organizations that provide programs for:
- relief of poverty;
- advancement of education;
- advancement of religion; and,
- other charitable purposes beneficial to the community.
To be considered eligible for a lottery license, each organization must:
- Have been in existence for at least one (1) year before being considered eligible for lottery licenses;
- Have provided charitable community services consistent with the primary objectives and purposes of the organization for at least one (1) year;
- Have a place of business in Ontario;
- Demonstrate that is established to provide charitable services in Ontario and use proceeds for objects or purposes which benefit Ontario residents;
- Open a separate trust account for lottery proceeds and expenditures; and,
- Assume full responsibility for the conduct and management of its lottery events.
The primary purposes of an organization are determined by considering:
- The mandate of the organization as set out in its incorporation documents or documents stating the organization’s objects;
- The objects of the organization as described in the license application; and,
- The services which have actually been provided by the organization to the community.
Proceeds from lottery licenses may not be used for the following:
- Academic and sports awards and trophies;
- Volunteer recognition;
- Fundraising activities, including wages for fundraiser and the cost of promotional materials;
- The provision of services for which the organization receives government funding or which the organization is required by law to provide;
- Legal Fees/costs incurred by the organization;
- Accounting fees, except as provided for by the terms and conditions of the lottery license; and,
- Out of pocket expense for volunteers to participate in the licensed lottery event, except as provided for by the terms and conditions of the lottery license.
The above list is not intended to be exhaustive but to simply provide some examples of ineligible use of proceeds.
A municipality may issue licenses to conduct the following lottery events:
- Bingo events with prize boards $5,500 and under;
- Media bingo events;
- Ticket raffle lotteries for total prized $50,000 and under;
- All break open ticket lotteries not licensed by the provincial office; and,
- Bazaar gaming events.
Determine what type of lottery scheme your organization intends to conduct, and:
- Complete the municipal Lottery Licensing Eligibility Form.
- Lottery Licensing Policy Manual
- Complete the appropriate Lottery Application Form that pertains to your lottery. These are available from the Township’s website or from the AGCO website.
- Return the completed forms to the Municipal Office.