Eligibility
Organizations wishing to apply for the first time must be an eligible charitable organization or a non-profit organization with charitable purposes or objectives including:
- The relief of poverty
- Advancement of education
- Advancement of religion
- Other charitable purposes that are beneficial to the community
When applying for a lottery licence, the organization has to show that, consistent with the organization's mandate, it has carried out charitable activities that provide a direct benefit to Ontario residents for a minimum of one year. They also have to include the following information:
- A copy of the letters patent, incorporation papers, charitable registrations and constitution and / or by-laws
- A copy of the organization's budget for the current year and a financial statement for the preceding year
- A current list of the board of directors, including positions held, addresses and contact information
You must abide by the Lottery Terms and Conditions under the AGCO.
Fees
The lottery license fee for a raffle or bazaar with a total prize value of $500 or less is $5.95. For a raffle or bazaar with a total prize value greater than $500, the fee for the lottery license is three percent of the total prize value.
For break open tickets and regular bingo lotteries, the fee for a lottery license is three per cent of the prize value.
Fees are made payable to the City of St. Catharines by cheque from the organization's lottery trust account.
Regulations
The Criminal Code of Canada, Order-in-Council, Gaming Control Act, 1992, as well as provincial and municipal regulations oversee lottery licensing.
The Criminal Code includes the following sections:
- Section 206 makes it an indictable offence to participate in a lottery scheme in any manner
- Section 207 (1) (a) provides an exemption from the general prohibition against gambling, allowing provincial governments to conduct and manage lottery schemes
- Section 207 (1) (b) provides an exemption from the general prohibition of gambling, allowing eligible charitable and religious organizations to conduct and manage lottery schemes under the authority of a licence issued by the appropriate authority. This section stipulates that eligible organizations must use lottery proceeds for a charitable objective
- Section 207 (1) (b) allows the Lieutenant Governor in Council to delegate licensing authority
The Government of Ontario, by Order-in-Council, designates the Registrar of Alcohol and Gaming and Municipal Councils as licensing authorities.