Lottery Licences
The Registrar of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission (A G C O) regulates and registers suppliers to, and gaming employees of, charitable gaming events, casinos, charity casinos and slot machine facilities (i.e., slot operations at racetracks). The Registrar is also responsible for administration of the regulatory framework governing the issuance of lottery licences to religious and charitable organizations.
Municipalities are partners with the A G C O in issuing lottery licences - the majority of lottery licences are issued by municipalities in the Province, primarily to religious and charitable organizations for bingo and break open ticket licences. Information on lotteries is available on the A G C O web site in the Gaming and Lotteries Section.
The A G C O is the licensing authority for:
- bingo events (i.e., Special Bingo, Monster Bingo) with prize board over $5,500;
- super jackpot bingo events;
- progressive bingo game events and loonie progressive games;
- social gaming events (i.e., table game event held in conjunction with a social event);
- raffle lotteries for total prizes over $50,000;
- 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.
The City Clerk's Department is responsible to licence certain lotteries conducted in the City of Sarnia. A Provincial Order-In-Council provides municipalities with 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 for local organizations;
- raffle lotteries 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.
An organization that wishes to run bingos in the City of Sarnia must receive approval from City Council. The organization must apply to the City Clerk's Office and provide information to enable the City to determine its eligibility to be licensed. The A G O web site outlines the type of information that is required in the section on Charitable Lottery Licensing. Information on the process and the City’s requirements is available at the City Clerk's Office by telephone, in person or by e-mail. Also available through the City Clerks Department or on the A G C O web site are copies of the Provincial Terms and Conditions, required forms to apply for a licence and forms for submitting financial reports.
