Fundraising is an important financial component for many charitable and not-for profit organizations. The following information will assist those organization’s interested in conducting a lottery event. These terms and conditions apply to all lottery licences issued under the authority of the Criminal Code (Canada). There are additional terms and conditions for each type of lottery scheme as well as Standards and Directives issued by the Registrar that must be followed.
Lotteries for Charity
Lotteries for charity can be a lot of fun – especially for the winners. But, certain rules must be followed in order to run a charitable lottery in Sarnia. We work together with the Sarnia Police and AGCO to ensure games are run in a legal and fair way. Eligible groups are able to submit an application for lottery licence. Third party groups wishing to help a charitable group are encouraged to speak directly with the organization, as licenses are only able to be issued to the licensed group.
Email us at lottery@sarnia.ca or call 519-332-0330 Ext. 3350 for more information.
Who is eligible for a lottery licence?
Visit the AGCO website for information on Eligibility and Use of Proceeds and General Lottery Licensing Policies.
To be eligible you must meet these requirements:
- Be approved /licensed by the City.
- Be in existence for at least one year and operate in Ontario.
- Demonstrate that Lottery fundraising is not the only source of generating revenue.
- Have objects that fall within one or more of the four charitable classifications: relief of poverty, advancement of education, advancement of religion, or other community-beneficial purposes (e.g., arts, youth development, amateur sports, cultural heritage)
- Provide documentation such as letters patent, bylaws, audited financials, Board roster, program outlines, and a proposed use of proceeds consistent with its charitable mandate.
If your charitable organization is interested in applying for a lottery licence an eligibility review must first be conducted. Please complete the Budget/ Eligibility Submission Form. Eligibility can take a minimum of two weeks to process.
What kinds of event require a lottery licence?
A lottery event contains three components:
- A prize ~ The prize value must be a minimum of 20% of the total ticket sales (unless it’s a 50/50 raffle).
- A chance to win the prize
- Consideration or a fee
All lottery events require a lottery licence in order to be permitted. Lottery events conducted without a licence are prohibited by the Criminal Code of Canada.
For information on promotional contests contact the Competition Bureau 1-800-348-5358
Silent auctions do not require a lottery licence as there is no chance to win, it’s known that the highest bidder wins
What types of games can a licence be issued for?
Municipalities may issue licenses to eligible organizations for the following events:
Electronic raffles are issued through the AGCO, information can be found here.
More information regarding cGaming, issued through the OLG, can be found here.