Lottery Licences

The Municipality of Leamington's Legislative Services Department administers and enforces Lottery Licensing for the Municipality. Lottery Licences are issued for lotteries and gaming activities conducted by charitable organizations to raise funds for charitable purposes.

Q: What is a lottery?

A:  A lottery is a gambling game or method of raising funds for public charitable purposes. A lottery event has the following three components: i) a prize, ii) a chance to win the prize, and iii) consideration or a fee

Q: What types of organizations can be licensed?

A: To qualify for a lottery licence, the organization must be an eligible "charitable organization" or, a non-profit organization with charitable purposes or objects.  Although there are many worthwhile activities and causes, not all are considered charitable.

An essential and common element in determining if an organization is charitable is the provision of "public benefit".  In order to determine if an organization is eligible for a lottery licence, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) uses the following four (4) charitable classifications as set out below:

1. Relief of Poverty
2. Advancement of Education
3. Advancement of Religion
4. Other charitable purposes beneficial to the community

Q: What kinds of lotteries can be licensed?

A:  Bingo events, raffles, break open tickets, bazar gaming events, and media bingo.

Q: What types of games are prohibited?

Section 206 and 207 of the Criminal Code of Canada establish the regulatory framework within which games are permitted. Equally, the Criminal Code of Canda establishes prohibited lottery schemes and makes it an indictable offence to conduct a lottery scheme without an appropriate licence. Examples of games that are not licensable and therefore prohibited may include (but are not limited to): 

• Card tournaments (Euchre, Texas Hold'em, Blackjack, etc.)
• Toonie Toss   
• Dice games    
• Raffles by donation    
• Coin tables
• Sports pools   
• Lottery events involiving betting         
• Wheel games

 Check with Legislative Services at (519) 326-5761 to ensure the legality of an event.

Q. What types of groups would not qualify for a lottery licence?

A:  The following are examples of organizations that would not be deemed eligible for a lottery licence:

• Adult hobby groups    
• Adult sports teams                 
• Political parties           
• Elected government groups               
• Individual youth sports teams            
• Private sports clubs such as golf and curling             
• Social clubs    
• Political Lobby Groups           
• Professional associations, union or employee groups

Links:

• Application for Licensing Eligibility
• Application Package - Raffle Licence Requirements
• Gaming and Lotteries in Ontario to access the Provincial Alcohol and Gaming Commission website.

The following e-forms for bingo, break open tickets and raffles can be downloaded:

• OLG Bingo Permit Application 

• OLG Bingo Monthly Report to Municipality

• Break Open Ticket Licence Application
• Break Open Lottery Report
• Break Open Terms & Conditions

• Raffle Lottery Report
• Raffle Lottery Terms & Conditions
• Raffe Application