What is a lottery?
A lottery is defined as any event that has the following three components:
- A prize;
- A chance (to win a prize); and
- A consideration or a fee to participate.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) is responsible for administering lottery licensing in the Province of Ontario. Both municipalities and the AGCO are responsible for issuing lottery licences to eligible charitable and religious organizations. An overview of Charitable Lottery Licensing can be found on the AGCO's website.
The Township is the licensing authority for:
- Bingo events, including table board bingo, with prize boards of up to $5,500;
- Media Bingo events with prizes up to $5,500;
- Break Open Tickets (BOTs) for local organizations;
- Raffle lotteries (including 50/50) for total prizes of $50,000 and under; and
- Bazaar lotteries which include: wheels of fortune with a maximum bet of $2.00, raffles not exceeding $500, and bingo events up to $500.
For any of the above lotteries occurring outside of the Township of Woolwich, the municipality where the lottery is taking place is the licensing authority.
Provincial Lottery Licensing
The AGCO is the licensing authority for:
- bingo events (i.e., Special Bingo, Monster Bingo) with a prize board over $5,500;
- super jackpot bingo events;
- progressive bingo game events and loonie progressive games;
- special occasion gaming event
- raffle lotteries for total prizes over $50,000;
- electronic raffles;
- break open tickets sold by organizations with a provincial mandate;
- lotteries held in conjunction with another gaming event, including break open tickets at bingo events;
- all lottery schemes conducted in unorganized territories; and
- lottery schemes at designated fairs or exhibitions.
For more information, please visit the AGCO's Charitable Lottery Licensing Overview webpage.