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Lottery Licences

Eligible charitable and religious organizations may raise funds through municipal lottery events. Municipalities are responsible for issuing lottery licences to eligible charitable and religious organizations within the boundaries of the municipality.

A lottery has three components: prize, chance and consideration. A lottery exists if money or other consideration is given for a chance to win a prize.

All lottery schemes or events require a licence; however, not all lottery schemes are licensable. If a lottery scheme is not licensed, then it is prohibited under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Lottery licences issued by municipalities typically include:

  • Bingo events with prize boards up to $5,500;
  • Media bingo events;
  • Merchandise bingo events;
  • Break open tickets for local organizations where they are not to be sold in conjunction with another gaming event;
  • Raffle lotteries with total prizes up to $50,000;
  • Bazaar lotteries that include wheels of fortune with a maximum bet of $2; and
  • Blanket raffle lotteries.

Learn more about which charitable gaming lottery licences are issued by municipalities and which are issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) on the AGCO's Where to Get a Lottery Licence webpage.

​Organizations that are eligible to conduct lotteries fall into one of two categories:

  1. Charitable organizations where the organization's purposes and objects are all charitable; and
  2. Non-profit organizations with charitable objects (may have a mixture of charitable and non-charitable purposes).

In order to qualify for a lottery licence, an organization must have been in existence for at least one year and provide charitable purposes and objects that fall within one of the following four classifications:

  • Relief of Poverty
  • Advancement of Education
  • Advancement of Religion
  • Other Charitable Purposes Beneficial to the Community

Organizations that are interested in raising funds through lottery must complete an eligibility review with the Township prior to a licence being issued. Organizations are requested to complete and submit a Lottery Licence Questionnaire along with the following documentation for the review:

  • A copy of its letters patent;
  • A copy of its constitution and bylaws;
  • A copy of its budget for the current year;
  • A copy of its financial statements for the preceding year;
  • A list of its Board of Directors;
  • Its latest report to the Public Guardian and Trustee;
  • Its charitable number for income tax purposes;
  • A copy of its Notification of Charitable Registration letter from the Canada Revenue Agency with any supporting documentation indicating the applicant's status and terms of registration;
  • Copies of its charitable returns to the Canada Revenue Agency for the previous calendar year;
  • A detailed descriptions of its activities;
  • A copy of its annual report; and
  • Any other information that will assist the licensing official to determine the charitable nature of its purposes, objects and activities.

First time Lottery Licence applicants are encouraged to review the Charitable Lottery Licensing Overview

Please allow 20 business days for the Township to carry out the eligibility review.

​Please allow at least 14 business days for the Municipality to process a lottery licence application and an additional 20 business days for organizations applying for the first time.

Licensees are required to hold lottery proceeds in a designated Lottery Trust Account at their financial institution. Lottery proceeds may only be used for the purposes specified in the lottery licence application as approved by the licensing authority.

Charitable gaming forms for municipalities are available through the AGCO website.

Contact Us

Corporation of the Township of Ramara
2297 Highway 12, PO Box 130, Brechin, ON, L0K 1B0

T. 705-484-5374
E. ramara@ramara.ca

 

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