Lottery Licence

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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) regulates charitable gaming licensing and authorizes the Township of Wilmot to issue licences to eligible charitable organizations, for lottery events conducted in Wilmot, including (but not limited to):

Bingo events with prize boards of up to $5,500;
Non-electronic raffles with prizes of up to $50,000;
Break open ticket events that are not conducted in conjunction with another licensed gaming event, and where the tickets are sold within the municipality;
Bazaar lotteries which include: wheels of fortune with a maximum individual bet of $2.00, raffles not exceeding $500 in prizes, and bingo events not exceeding $500 in prizes; and
Media bingo events with prizes of up to $5,500.

A lottery event is defined as any event that has the following three components:

a prize;
a chance (to win the prize); and
a cost or consideration to participate.

The Township of Wilmot does not issue lottery licences for the following, even if the intention is to donate the proceeds raised to charity:

for-profit organizations;
private events such as stag and does, birthday parties or corporate events;
professional associations, unions, or employee groups;
adult sports clubs;
private sports clubs;
social clubs; or
governments.

In addition, the Township of Wilmot does not issue licences for electronic raffles; organizations who wish to conduct an electronic raffle must apply to the AGCO directly.

The Roles of Municipalities

Issue Licences

The Township of Wilmot is authorized to issue lottery licences for certain lottery events, to eligible organizations.

Determine Eligibility

The Township of Wilmot must ensure that applicant organizations are eligible for lottery licences; be fair and equitable when issuing licences; and remain satisfied that licensees continue to meet the requirements.

Administrative Responsibilities

Municipalities must:

report any information required by the Registrar (AGCO);
enforce licensing policies;
ensure that licensees comply with the terms and conditions of their licences; and
investigate any breaches of the terms and conditions.

Lottery Licensing Eligibility

To be eligible, the applicant must be a charitable organization which is an individual legal entity and must also demonstrate that it exists to provide services in one of the following four charitable classifications:

the relief of poverty;
the advancement of education;
the advancement of religion; or
other charitable purposes beneficial to the community not falling under 1, 2, or 3, such as culture and the arts, health and welfare, amateur sports organizations, the enhancement of youth, the enhancement of public safety, and community services organizations.

The lottery licensing eligibility review process is thorough and complex. Upon receipt of an Application for Lottery Licensing Eligibility, the Township of Wilmot will conduct an assessment of the applicant organization’s eligibility based on the outlined criteria. This assessment will include a review of financial records, organization documents, and other relevant information. It is important that each organization cooperates fully during this review to ensure accurate and efficient processing.

Eligibility Information for New Organizations

All organizations which have not received a lottery licence from the Township of Wilmot within the last two years must first apply for eligibility by submitting a fully completed Eligibility Application, together with all of the required supporting documentation.

Once an organization has been deemed eligible, opened a designated Lottery Trust Bank Account and provided a copy of the account information to the Township, it may then apply for a lottery licence.

Eligibility Information for Existing Organizations

Organizations which have received lottery licences from the Township of Wilmot in the last two years, but have not had an eligibility review within the last three years, will be asked to complete an Eligibility Application, together with all of the required supporting documentation.

The purpose of this review is to ensure that all community organizations eligible for lottery licensing are in compliance with the applicable regulations and criteria set forth by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). This review is an essential step in maintaining the integrity of our lottery licensing process and ensuring that the funds generated are allocated appropriately to support eligible local charitable initiatives.

Application to Conduct a Lottery Event

Organizations which have been deemed eligible may submit an application to conduct a lottery event to the Township Office (administration complex). To ensure the application is processed as quickly as possible, please submit all required information including:

physical copy of completed application form with all original signatures;
rules of play for the event;
details regarding the use of proceeds raised by the event (please review Chapter 2 of the Lottery Licensing Policy Manual (LLPM) for further information regarding eligible uses of proceeds for your organization's charitable classification);
sample lottery ticket (please ensure that all ticket requirements are met, by consulting the terms and conditions for the type of lottery event which the organization is applying for); and
contact information including name, phone and email address.

Once the application has been processed, the Licensing Officer will contact the applicant and provide instructions regarding licence pickup and fee details. Please note that the licence fee for lotteries is always 3% of the total prize value indicated on the application form.

Application Forms:

Raffle Application to Manage and Conduct a Raffle Lottery allows eligible organizations to apply for a lottery licence permitting the conduct of a non-electronic raffle lottery, where the total value of the prizes to be awarded, including any taxes, is $50,000 or less.
Application to Manage and Conduct a Blanket Raffle Lottery allows eligible organizations to apply for a single lottery licence to conduct and manage more than one type of raffle event within a fixed period of time and from one location, within a capped prize amount of $50,000.
Application to Manage and Conduct a Bingo Lottery
Break Open Ticket Licence Application, also known as 'Nevada Ticket' or 'Pull Tab', allows eligible organizations to apply for a licence to conduct this type of lottery scheme where tickets are not to be sold in conjunction with another gaming event.

Lottery Licence Reporting Requirements

Within 30 days of the last lottery event or draw, a report must be completed (on the appropriate AGCO form, which can be found at one of the below links) and submitted to the Township. Please consult the terms and conditions for the reporting requirements specific to your organization's type of Municipal Lottery Licence.

The following information and/or documentation must be submitted with the completed report form:

copies of all bank deposit slips related to the event;
receipts for all administrative expenses indicated on the report;
a list of the winner(s);
a copy of the winning ticket(s); and
any other documentation requested by the Licensing Officer which are necessary to substantiate the particulars of the event.

AGCO Lottery Report Forms

Municipal Lottery Licence Terms and Conditions

Lottery Licence Terms and Conditions
Raffle Licence Terms and Conditions (applies to raffles and blanket raffles)
Regular and Special Bingo Licence Terms and Conditions
Break Open Ticket Licence Terms and Conditions

Know Your Obligations

The following links provide detailed information regarding lottery licensing in Ontario and the obligations of applicants and licensees:

Should you have questions or concerns regarding the legislation discussed on this page, please contact the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

Contacts