Lottery Licensing is a way of fundraising for eligible organizations which in turn, is a benefit to the community.
In the Province of Ontario, we must follow lottery licensing requirements set out in the Criminal Code of Canada and the policies of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
Lottery Licences can be obtained by making an appointment with the Licensing Officer.
Please allow 5-10 days to receive your lottery licence.
How to get a Lottery Licence?
If your eligibility has been approved, you need to fill out the correct application form. For example, if you are hosting one 50/50 the application is Manage and Conduct a Raffle Lottery, if you are hosting more than one , the application is Manage and Conduct a Blanket Raffle Lottery.
- Break Open Ticket Licence Application Form
- Application to Manage and Conduct a Raffle Lottery
- Application to Manage and Conduct a Blanket Raffle Lottery
- Bingo Licence Application Form
- Application to Manage and Conduct a Bingo Lottery
Please email your application to Licensing Officer.
Are you allowed to conduct a lottery?
Canada's Criminal Code only permits charitable and religious organizations to conduct lottery schemes to raise funds pursuant to an issued lottery licence. Organizations must have a demonstrated charitable or religious mandate to qualify.
The courts have determined that the term "charitable" refers to organizations which provide programs for:
- the relief of poverty;
- the advancement of education;
- the advancement of religion; and
- other charitable purposes beneficial to the community.
The following are prerequisites to be considered eligible for a lottery licence:
- Organizations must have been in existence for at least one(1) year;
- Organizations must have a place of business in Ontario;
- Organizations' primary purpose must be to provide charitable services in Ontario; and
- Organization must use the proceeds of any lottery scheme for objects or purposes which benefit Ontario residents.
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 objectives;
- the objectives of the organization as described in its application for licence; and
- the services which have actually been provided by the organization to the community.
First time applicants must pass an eligibility review- this takes time!
In addition to the materials required with the lottery application form, applicants must provide the following documents and complete a review form:
- A copy of its articles of incorporation or constitution and/or by-laws
- A copy of its budget or financial statements for the preceding and coming years
- Any other information that will assist in determining the charitable nature of the objects and purposes. This could include an annual report, charitable number for income-tax purposes, the fact that it meets the reporting requirements of the Charities Accounting Act.
- The proposed use of proceeds must be consistent with the primary objects and purposes of the organization which must be of a charitable nature consistent with at least one of the four classifications of charitable purposes
Types of organizations that are NOT eligible for charitable lottery licensing.
The types of organizations which cannot be considered charitable include:
- social clubs
- professional associations, unions, employee groups
- elected representative groups including municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments
- government ministries, agents or bodies
- political lobby groups
- political parties
- adult hobby groups
- private sports clubs (e.g. golf/curling)
- adult sports teams
- Other types of lottery licences are issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
- Lottery licence fees are set at 3% of the total value of the prize(s).