A lottery lets charities raise funds to support their services and programs that benefit the community. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) oversees lottery licensing in Ontario, ensuring the rules are followed and that proceeds go to eligible charities and religious organizations. The City works with the AGCO to issue lottery licences.
Apply for a lottery licence
You can pick up your application, terms and conditions, and municipal requirements at the Clerk's office in City Hall. You can also get the Application to Manage and Conduct a Raffle Lottery form (PDF) online from the AGCO website.
The Clerk’s office can answer questions about different types of lotteries and guide you if you need a provincial licence.
Contact
City Lottery Licensing Coordinator at 905-356-7521 ext. 4275
Types of lotteries
A lottery happens when you pay for a chance to win a prize.
Examples:
- Raffle tickets
- Bingo games
- Break open (Nevada tickets)
- Charity casino (Monte Carlo events)
Promotional draws in stores where no purchase is needed to fill out a ballot are not considered lotteries.
Who can get a lottery licence?
Only charitable or non-profit charitable organizations, as defined by the AGCO, can get a lottery licence. All lotteries need a licence either issued by the City or the provincial government.
To be eligible, your charitable organization must have been in existence for at least 1 year, have a place of business in Ontario, and provide programs for:
- the relief of poverty
- the advancement of education
- the advancement of religion
- other charitable purposes beneficial to the community
We can help determine if your organization qualifies and which category it fits.
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