Lottery Licences

• Break Open tickets for local organizations
• Raffle lotteries for total prizes of $50,000 and under
• Bazaar lotteries

Eligible Organizations/applicants must submit a completed Lottery License Application to the Clerk's Department, please allow a minimum of ten (10) working days for the Lottery Licensing Officer (Clerk's Department) to review and process the application.

Applications that are not completed to the satisfaction of the Lottery Licensing Officer/Authority may experience delays in the issuance of the License.

Each lottery license application must clearly state where the proceeds from the licensed scheme will be donated.

All Lottery proceeds raised are for charitable purposes, as outlined in Section 2.1.0 of the Lottery License Policy Manual (LLPM), and must follow the established Organization's mandate.

An Organization may not rely solely on lottery licensing proceeds to exist.

The Lottery Licensing Officer will provide all Organizations that are issued a lottery License with the following:

• Correspondence acknowledging receipt of payment for the License
• Terms and conditions for the scheme Licensed
• A prescribed Lottery Report form

It is the responsibility of the applicant (organization) to submit a lottery report to the municipality. Lottery Reports must be completed on a prescribed form and filed with the Lottery Licensing Officer (Clerk's Department) within thirty (30) days of the last draw of the lottery event.

The Lottery License Report must also be accompanied by copies of the following:

• Cheques issued pertaining to the License
• Financial Statements (deposit slips)
• A list of winners relating to the event.

Any discrepancies between the net receipts and total deposits must be explained, in writing, and submitted with the Report.

Please Note: Lottery Licences will not be issued if there are outstanding reports.

For more information on lottery licences or to access the Lottery Licencing Policy Manual (LLPM) and prescribed forms, please visit the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. 

To be eligible for a lottery licence, an applicant must qualify as an eligible charitable organization or as a non-profit organization with charitable purposes or objects.

Charitable refers to organizations which provide programs for:

• The relief of poverty
• The advancement of education
• The advancement of religion
• Other charitable purposes beneficial to the community.

Organizations must have been in existence for at least one (1) year before being considered eligible for lottery licences.

The organization must also have:

• a place of business in Ontario
• demonstrate that it is established to provide charitable services in Ontario
• use the proceeds for objects or purposes which benefit Ontario residents.

Organizations that are not eligible for lottery licencing include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Professional associations, unions and employee groups, except those set up to carry out charitable activities
• Elected representative groups including municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments;
• Government agencies or bodies
• Political lobby groups and those attempting to persuade the public to adopt a particular view on a political issue
• Advocacy, self-help and other groups solely dedicated to the political, personal and financial advancement of their members
• Political parties
• Adult hobby groups
• For-profit, members-only or private sports clubs and for-profit adult sports teams and leagues
• Those promoting a political doctrine
• Those attempting to bring about or oppose changes in the law or government policy
• Municipal councils, municipal corporations and their administrative departments
• Organizations established solely for the purpose of fundraising

Organizations must submit the following documents to determine eligibility:

• Copy of your bylaw and constitution
• Copy of your letters patent
• Copy of your current year's budget
• Copy of your previous years financial statement
• List of your Board of Directors
• Charitable number for income tax purposes
• Notification of Charitable Registration Letter for the Canada Revenue Agency
• Detailed description of your activities
• Copy of your annual report