Lottery licensing

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) authorizes the City of London to provide local charities, non-profit organizations and other eligible organizations with lottery and gaming licences. The City of London ensures all legal requirements, including terms and conditions to the licences, are met by lottery licensees and any gaming supplies used by charities. The Criminal Code of Canada defines what types of gaming activities are illegal in Canada, and the provinces are assigned responsibility to operate, license and regulate legal forms of gaming.

If your organization is interested in lottery licensing, please submit a Lottery Licensing Eligibility Review Application and supporting documents to the City Clerk’s Office.

Charitable organizations may be permitted to conduct a lottery scheme to raise funds once a licence is issued. Organizations must have a demonstrated charitable or religious mandate to provide programs for:

• relief of poverty;
• advancement of education;
• advancement of religion;
• other charitable purposes beneficial to the community such as:
  • culture and the arts
  • health and welfare
  • amateur sports organization
  • enhancement of youth
  • enhancement of public safety
  • community service organizations (Legion, Rotary, Lions, etc.)

Your organization must:

• have been in existence and has provided charitable community services consistent with the goals and activities of the organization for at least one year in the City of London;
• proposes to use the proceeds for charitable programs and services that benefit London and its residents; and
• assumes full responsibility for the conduct and management of the lottery event.

The City of London can only issue a lottery licence to an organization operating a lottery within the city limits.

An individual is not eligible for a lottery licence.

Please note an individual is not eligible for a lottery licence.

Types of organizations which cannot be considered for lottery licensing include:

• social clubs
• professional associations, union, employee groups
• elected representative groups including municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments
• government ministries, agents or bodies
• political lobby groups and those attempting to persuade the public to adopt a particular view on a political issue
• political parties
• adult hobby groups
• private sports club (e.g., golf/curling)
• adult sports teams or hobby groups
• individual youth sports teams
• organizations established solely for the purpose of fundraising

If this is your first time receiving lottery licensing in the City of London, please complete Lottery Licensing Eligibility Review Application and provide supporting documents to the City Clerk’s Office. 

Once approved, determine what type of lottery scheme (raffle, bingo, break open ticket) your organization intends to conduct and complete the application form to submit to the City Clerk’s Office.

• Document

  Lottery Licence Eligibility Review.pdf

City Clerk’s Office - Lottery Licensing

308-300 Dufferin Avenue
London ON N6A 4L9
Phone: 519 661-4530
Fax: 519-661-4892
lottery@london.ca

Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario

Licensing and Registration
 

90 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 200

Toronto Ontario M2N 0A4

General Telephone: 416 326-8700

Toll Free in Ontario: 1-800-522-2876

General Fax: 416 326-5555

General email: customer.service@agco.ca

Website Feedback: webmaster@agco.ca

Bingo in a commercial hall or in a public place may have prize value up to $5,500. Bingo games with a prize board over $5,500 are licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

When applying for a bingo licence, applicants should:

• ensure their eligibility is current (we renew eligibility every five years)
• review the Lottery Licence Terms and Conditions
• complete the Charitable Gaming Application and gather supporting documentation
• coordinate application and cheque from lottery trust account for the lottery licence fee ($90.00 per event) with the Charity Association at Bingo Country

Following a bingo lottery event, your organization must submit a Charitable Gaming Report within 30 days of holding the lottery.  This can be done by mail, fax, email or in person at the City Clerk’s Office.

A Charitable Gaming Report must be submitted with the following:

• lottery trust account bank statements, copies of cheques and invoices for expenses and use of lottery proceeds

If you are adding, switching, or cancelling a scheduled bingo date, please notify our office as soon as possible before the event.  It is the charity’s responsibility to notify the City Clerk’s Office with a Charitable Gaming Event Licence Amendment Request prior to the bingo date.

• ensure their eligibility is current (we renew eligibility every five years)
• review the Break Open Ticket Licence Terms and Conditions
• complete the Break Open Ticket Licence Application
• submit copy of Gaming Control Act Registration if selling from a third party retail location (ie variety store)
• submit application and cheque from lottery trust account for the lottery licence fee (3% of total value of all prizes)

The City Clerk’s office will process and issue your licence within 3 business days once complete applications are received.

Following the expiry of your Break Open Ticket Licence, sale of your last Break Open Ticket, or the issuance of a new licence, your organization must submit a Break Open Ticket Lottery Report within 30 days of holding the lottery.  This can be done by mail, fax, email or in person at the City Clerk’s Office.

A Break Open Ticket Lottery Report must be submitted with the following:

• lottery trust account bank statements and copies of cheques
• copies of invoices matched to corresponding cheque

The City of London licences lottery events at a bazaar where any combination of the following are held:

• Raffle with prizes up to $50,000
• Bingo with prizes up to $5,500
• A maximum three wheels of fortune with a $2 bet
• Penny auction raffle with prizes up to $50,000

• ensure their eligibility is current (we renew eligibility every five years)
• review the Bazaar Licence Terms and Conditions
• complete the Application to Manage and Conduct a Lottery Type Scheme at a Bazaar and gather supporting documentation
• submit application and cheque from lottery trust account for the lottery licence fee (3% of total retail value of all prizes) and $10.00 per wheel

The City Clerk’s office will process and issue your licence within 3 business days once complete applications are received.

Following a raffle lottery event, your organization must submit a Lottery Report within 30 days of holding the lottery.  This can be done by mail, fax, email or in person at the City Clerk’s Office.

A Lottery Report must be submitted with the following:

• a list of prize winners
• itemized list of administrative costs (licence fee, ticket purchase/printing, etc.)
• lottery trust account bank statements and copies of cheques and invoices for expenses and use of lottery proceeds
• one unsold ticket (this is not needed if it is a “rip ticket” for penny tables)

• ensure their eligibility is current (we renew eligibility every five years)
• review the Raffle Licence Terms and Conditions
• complete the Application to Manage and Conduct a Raffle Lottery and gather supporting documentation.  For more information, please see our Lottery Licence Application Checklist and Mock Ticket Sample
  • Document

    Lottery Licence Application Checklist.pdf
    Document

    Mock Raffle Ticket.pdf
• submit application and cheque from lottery trust account for the lottery licence fee (3% of total retail value of all prizes)

The City Clerk’s office will process and issue your licence within 3 business days once complete applications are received.

Following a raffle lottery event, your organization must submit a Raffle Lottery Report within 30 days of holding the lottery.  This can be done by mail, fax, email or in person at the City Clerk’s Office.

A Raffle Lottery Report must be submitted with the following:

• a list of prize winners
• itemized list of administrative costs (licence fee, ticket purchase/printing, etc.)
• lottery trust account bank statements and copies of cheques and invoices for expenses and use of lottery proceeds
• one unsold ticket (this is not needed if it is a “rip ticket” for 50/50 draws)