Lottery FAQ

What lottery schemes does the City of Temiskaming Shores licence?
What lottery schemes does the Province licence?
Who can get a licence to conduct lottery events?
What types of organizations are not considered charitable for lottery licensing purposes?
How do I know if my organization is eligible?
Does my organization require a separate bank account for Lottery Funds?
Where do I find the Provincial office?

What lottery schemes does the City of Temiskaming Shores licence?

A municipality may issue licences to conduct the following lottery events:

• Bingo events (up to $5,500)
• Media bingo events
• Raffle lotteries (up to $50,000)
• Break open ticket lotteries
• Lottery schemes at Bazaar

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What lottery schemes does the Province licence?

The province licences the following events:

• Bingo events (over $5,500)
• Raffle lotteries (over $50,000)
• Lotteries held in conjunction with another gaming event
• Provincial break open tickets
• All social gaming events
• All lottery schemes conducted in unorganized territories
• All lottery schemes at a designated Fair or Exhibition or at Public Place of Amusement.

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Who can get a licence to conduct lottery events?

Organizations who have an established charitable, religions, or non-profit mandate may qualify. Specifically, the organization's mandate must fall within one of the four following categories:

• Relief of poverty
• Advancement of education
• Advancement of religion
• Other charitable purposes beneficial to the community (ex: service clubs, youth groups)

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What types of organizations are not considered charitable for lottery licensing purposes?

Types of organizations which cannot be considered charitable for the purposes of lottery include:

• Social clubs
• Adult sports teams
• Professional associations, union, employee groups
• Elected representative groups
• Government ministries, agents, or bodies
• Political lobby groups
• Political parties
• Adult hobby groups
• Private sports clubs
• Volunteer organizations which promote volunteerism

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How do I know if my organization is eligible?

All organizations, which have never operated a lottery, or have not had a lottery in over two years, are required to undergo an eligibility review before they can be licensed. All organizations must provide the following documentation:

• Copy of Letters Patent (if applicable)
• Copy of constitution and by-laws
• Copy of budget for the current year
• Copy of financial statements for the preceding year
• List of Board of Directors
• Latest report to the Public Guardian and Trustee
• Charitable number for income tax purposes
• Copy of 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 charitable returns to the Canada Revenue Agency for the previous calendar year
• Detailed description of activities
• Copy Annual Report

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Does my organization require a separate bank account for Lottery Funds?

Any organization that is licensed to conduct a lottery event is required to open and maintain a separate designated lottery trust account to administer all funds related to the conduct of the lottery event. The designated lottery account shall:

• Be maintained in the name of the organization, in trust
• Have cheque writing privileges
• Have monthly bank statements issued
• Have cheques returned to the organization with the monthly bank statement
• A minimum of two signing officers who are bona fide members of the organization to administer the account and write cheques (all cheques must have two signatures)
• Have all funds derived from lottery events deposited
• Have all withdrawals made by cheque

Monies raised through lottery schemes cannot be co-mingled with monies from other revenue sources. This means that monies cannot be transferred from the lottery trust account to an organization's general or operating account, and vice versa.

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Where do I find the Provincial office?

Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
Gaming Registration and Lotteries
90 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 200-300
Toronto, Ontario  M2N 0A4

P: 416-326-8700
Toll Free in Ontario: 1-800-522-2876
F: 416-326-8711
General Email Inquiries: Licensing@agco.on.ca
Website: www.agco.on.ca

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