Charitable Lottery Licensing

Eligible charitable and religious organizations may raise funds through provincially or municipally licensed lottery events.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) is responsible for administering the lottery licensing program in the province - municipalities are partners with the AGCO in issuing lottery licenses to eligible charitable and religious organizations.

Lottery licensing refers to lottery schemes permitted by a license under the Criminal Code of Canada. Typically, these may include bingos, raffles, break open tickets and social gaming events held by charitable or religious organizations. Licensed charitable or religious organizations must conduct and manage their events in accordance with licensing policies and the terms and conditions of the licenses and fulfill all prescribed reporting requirements.

Order in Council 2688/93 (as amended by OIC 2033/97 and OIC 267/98) authorizes the licensing framework for eligible charitable or religious organizations to hold lottery events and sets out the limits of municipal and provincial licensing.

The commercial sector of the charitable gaming industry is regulated by the Gaming Control Act, 1992 (the “Act”) and Regulations. For more information on how charitable gaming is affected by the Act, visit the section of the AGCO web site on “Charitable Gaming Registration”.

Visit the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario web site at www.agco.on.ca (Opens a new browser).