The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is responsible for regulating and overseeing licensed lottery events (such as bingos, raffles and the sale of break open tickets) conducted by eligible charitable and religious organizations to raise funds to support charitable purposes.
As part of the AGCO’s regulatory responsibilities in the charitable sector, the AGCO administers, in partnership with municipalities, the regulatory framework governing the issuance of charitable lottery licenses.
More information is available at AGCO.
Lottery Gaming General Information A lottery event contains three elements: consideration or fee, chance to win a prize and a prize(s). Consideration may be direct or indirect. Only those lottery events approved by the AGCO may be licensable. These approved lottery events and much more information can be found in the AGCO Lottery Licensing Policy Manual (LLPM).
Only eligible charitable organizations can apply for a municipal lottery license. New organizations must first apply for eligibility to the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley prior to applying for a lottery license.
Eligibility for lottery licensing is based on four charitable categories:
1. Relief of Poverty
2. Advancement of Religion
3. Advancement of Education
4. Charitable Purposes Beneficial to the Community
Municipal Lottery Licensing Fees:
3% of the prize amount – Raffles, Bazaar, Break Open Nevada, Bingo etc.
Use of Lottery Proceeds
Funds raised through municipal lottery licensing can only be used for charitable purposes and must be in compliance with a charitable organization’s mandate.
For more information on eligible use of proceeds, refer to the AGCO Lottery Licensing Manual or contact the Deputy Clerk at deputyclerk@ektwp.ca
Bazaar License
Bazaar means an event where any combination of the following lotteries may be conducted:
- raffle not exceeding $50,000 in prizes
- bingo not exceeding $5,500 in prizes
- maximum three wheels of fortune with a maximum $2 bet
A Bazaar license includes Penny Auction Sales.
Raffle License
A raffle lottery is a 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. Prizes may consist of merchandise and/or cash. As a raffle is a type of lottery, it must be licensed regardless of the size of the prize or whether it is open to the public in accordance with the Criminal Code of Canada.
Blanket Raffle License
A blanket raffle license will allow eligible organizations to obtain one lottery license to conduct and manage more than one type of raffle event within a fixed time period and within a capped prize amount.
Break Open Tickets (BOT) License
Break Open tickets are instant win lottery tickets commonly known as Pull Tab, Nevada or Break Open tickets. A license may last for the period indicated on the license or whenever the licensee completes the ticket sales, whichever comes first.
All application forms must be signed and submitted to the municipal office for eligibility review and processing.
