Lottery Licences

Lottery Licencing refers to lottery schemes permitted by a licence under the Criminal Code of Canada which include charging a fee for the chance to win a prize. Examples of a lottery include bingos, raffles, and break open tickets.

The Town of Shelburne issues lottery licences to eligible charitable, non-profit, or religious organizations on behalf of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Under certain conditions, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is required to issue licences. The AGCO oversees all lotteries in Ontario, and list several policies and regulations on how to advertise and conduct lotteries.

Organizations must conduct and manage events in accordance with licencing policies and terms and conditions, and fulfill reporting requirements.

Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario's website Lottery Licensing Policy Manual (LLPM)

Types of Lotteries

There are many different types of lotteries, which involve separate forms, rules, and terms and conditions. More information on each lottery type is available on the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario's website.

You buy tickets for a chance to win prizes in various types of draws. These raffles might include 50/50, elimination draws, calendar draws, electronic raffles, and Catch the Ace.

View more information on Raffle Licencing on the AGCO's website

Catch the Ace is a progressive raffle involving a multiple-draw game where people who buy tickets get a chance to win a percentage of the money raised by selling tickets from one draw. The draw winner also gets a chance to win a jackpot that carries over from one draw to the next by choosing a numbered envelope that contains a card from a deck of 52 playing cards.

View more Catch the Ace raffle information on the AGCO's website.

Bazaars are events that can have raffles (up to $50,000 in prizes), a bingo (up to $5,500 in prizes), and up to three wheels of fortune with a maximum $2.00 bet.

Bingo is a game where players purchase cards featuring a grid of numbers. As numbers are randomly drawn, players mark them on their cards, aiming to complete specific patterns to win prizes.

View more Bingo Licence information on the AGCO's website, including the types of bingo licences that can be issued.

Bingo Terms and Conditions (regular and special)
Bingo Application Form
Bingo Report Form

A Break Open Ticket is a cardboard ticket with hidden symbols and tabs are teared open to reveal symbols. The combinations on the back determine if you win. This licence allows you to sell tickets at one location.

View more Break Open Ticket information on the AGCO's website.

Eligibility, Use of Proceeds, Bank Account Requirements, and Fees

To be eligible to receive a lottery licence, an organization must be a:

Charitable organization; or
Non-profit organization with charitable purposes whose activities fall under one of the following four classifications:
1. Relief of Poverty
2. Advancement of Education
3. Advancement of Religion
4. Other charitable purposes beneficial to the community

Your organization must also:

be more than a year old
use their money for public benefit
have a separate designated lottery trust account
use the lottery proceeds for eligible expenses
complete an eligibility review with the Town

If you are applying for the first time, the Town will require additional documentation about your organization in order to confirm your eligibility.

View more information on the eligibility requirements in the AGCO's Lottery Licencing Policy Manual.

Lottery Licence proceeds must meet eligibility requirements including that the proceeds collected from lotteries are:

charitable and advance the charitable objects or purposes of the organization;
required for the direct delivery of the charitable objects or purposes of the organization; and
directed toward a large portion of the community or residents of Ontario with a common need.

View more information about eligible use of proceeds in the AGCO's Lottery Licencing Policy Manual.

The AGCO requires all organizations to open and maintain a separate designated lottery trust account to administer all funds related to the conduct of lottery events. Learn more about the banking and financial requirements for lottery licencing on the AGCO's website.

The fee for a lottery licence is 3% of the value of the prize.

When applying for a lottery licence, you need to provide the following information according to the AGCO

Incorporation papers
Constitution and bylaws
Notification of Charitable registration
Financial statements for the previous fiscal year
Detailed outline of all programs/services provided in the previous year and specific cost incurred in delivery
Current operating budget
List of current board of directors
Any other information that will help determine the purpose and nature of your charitable organization
Proposed use of proceeds

Contact the Town's Lottery Licenecing Officer

Legislative Services is responsible for administering charitable lottery licensing programs in the Town of Shelburne. Contact The Town's Deputy Clerk for more information or to stary a lottery today.

Administrative Office
203 Main Street East
Shelburne, ON L9V 3K7

Email: info@shelburne.ca
Phone: 519-925-2600
Fax: 519 -925-6134