Fundraising is an important financial component for many charitable and not-for profit organizations. The following information will assist eligible organizations interested in conducting a lottery event. Draws must take place in the City of Sarnia for the City to issue the licence.
What kinds of events require a lottery licence?
The Lottery Licensing Policy Manual (LLPM) contains the policies and procedures that municipal officials must follow to issue and administer charitable gaming licenses in Ontario. These policies reflect the mandate of the AGCO to regulate charitable lotteries to ensure they are conducted with honesty and integrity, and in the public interest.
For the purposes of this manual, “lottery” means a gaming event or scheme that is conducted by a charitable or religious organization or a non-profit group with charitable objects and purposes. The policies apply to:
- raffles,
- break open ticket sales,
- charity bingo, and
- one-time special occasion gaming events and bazaars run by these organizations.
Silent auctions do not require a lottery licence because there is no element of chance—the highest bidder wins.
For information on promotional contests contact the Competition Bureau 1-800-348-5358.
Who is eligible for a lottery licence?
The AGCO sets the eligibility requirements. If a third-party group would like to support a charitable organization, they are encouraged to contact the organization directly, as licenses can only be issued to the eligible charitable group itself.
If your charitable organization meets AGCO’s eligibility requirements and would like to apply for a lottery licence, an eligibility review must be completed first. Please submit the Eligibility and Budget Submission Form for Lottery Licence and C-Gaming. Please note that the eligibility review may take at least two weeks to process.
Eligibility Submission Form for Lottery Licence
Getting started
After the group’s eligibility has been confirmed, follow the steps below to obtain a lottery licence from the City of Sarnia.
Steps to obtain a lottery licence:
- Visit the AGCO website for information on Eligibility and Use of Proceeds and General Lottery Licensing Policies. Complete eligibility submission form if not completed in last 12 months.
- If approved, submit the lottery licence application, application fee, Rules of Play, and a $10,000 Letter of Credit or certified cheque. The licence fee is 3% of the prize value, payable by cheque from the Lottery Trust Account to the City of Sarnia.
- Manage and conduct lottery as per lottery or raffle terms and conditions.
- Complete lottery report and submit within 30 days after the event. After all tickets have been sold, the licensee must submit a report form and copies of all receipts for expenses within 30 days of the final ticket sale, as well as a bank statement. Each time lottery proceeds are used, they are to report on use of proceeds.
A licensee must not allow any person apparently under the age of 18 to participate as a player in any game of chance, or the age of 19 if alcohol is included in the prizes. All advertising must include the lottery licence number. Raffle tickets must be purchased in Ontario and must not be mailed out of the province. Residents of other countries or provinces may purchase raffle tickets or break open tickets licensed in Ontario.
Catch the Ace Lottery
Catch the Ace progressive (accumulation jackpot) raffle lottery is a multiple draw game in which participants purchase tickets for a chance to win:
- A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of tickets for one draw and;
- The draw winner also gets a chance to win a progressive (cumulative) jackpot by selecting a new card from a standard deck of 52 playing cards.
Prize structure
- 20% of event tickets sales awarded to the bearer of the winning ticket at each draw
- 30% of event tickets sales allocated to the progressive jackpot
- 50% of event tickets sales retaining by the licensee and from which all allowable expenses will be paid
Guide: Catch the Ace | Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
Rules of Play
Rules of Play for Raffle Lottery Licensing (Draws)
A raffle is an event for which tickets are sold and the winner of a prize is determined through random selection by draw of one or more tickets from all those sold.
Things to consider when creating your rules of play. Rules of play are for the group’s protection.
- Raffle ticket sales cannot exceed 20% of the total prize value.
- What type of raffle is it? 50/50, prize raffle, auction raffle, meat raffle, cash calendar, elimination draw, etc.?
- Who is conducting the raffle (organization)?
- Where is the raffle taking place, date & time of draw?
- The max number of tickets available and the price of the tickets (the odds of winning are dependent on the number of valid entries).
- Winning tickets must be presented to claim the prize.
- Winners must agree to allow the use of their name.
- State whether ticket holders are required to be present to win the draw, and ticket type. Rip tickets sold only at day of event and stub tickets can be sold in advance.
- How will winners be notified?
- How will winners be publicly posted? Website, Facebook, Media, displayed on location?
- Purchasers must be over the age of 18 to play.
- Problem Gambling Hotline 1-888-230-3505 must be in all advertisements, posters and on the rules of play.
- List of the prize(s) and the value.
- Board members, executives, and employees of the organization directly involved with charitable gaming, employees of the event location, and prize donors, are not eligible to win.
- How will tickets be stored throughout the raffle?
- How will winning ticket(s) be drawn, and in what order? Will you draw back up winners?
- Contingency plan if the draw cannot happen due to a disaster or emergency?
- Once a winning ticket is drawn, how long does the winner have to claim the prize before another ticket is drawn, if applicable (ie. 50/50, raffle, meat raffle)?
- Contact info for all winners will be shared with the licencing authority.
- Any unclaimed prizes must be held for 6 months from the date of the draw, unless otherwise stated in rules of play. Every reasonable effort to contact the winner will be made; including, attempting to locate the winner using the contact information provided on the ticket stub, by sending a registered letter if address is available, telephoning the individual, posting on website or Facebook page. Any unclaimed prize will be donated to a charitable organization approved by the group and licencing authority.
Information bulletins
- 50/50 Raffle Split the Pot at: Charitable Lottery Licensing Update: 50/50 Raffle Split the Pot | Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (agco.ca) for more information.
- Mandatory Lottery Product Purchasing Policy Requirements
Where can I obtain a licence?
Licenses are issued by either the municipality (City of Sarnia) or the AGCO depending on the type. A full listing is available on the AGCO website.
| Licenses issued by City of Sarnia | Licences issued by AGCO |
|---|---|
| • bingo events, with prizes up to $5,500 • media bingo events (cGaming) • break open (Nevada) tickets • raffle lotteries for total prizes up to $50,000 • Catch the Ace | • bingo events with a prize board over $5,500 • raffle lotteries for total prizes over $50,000 • electronic raffles • social gaming |
| After an organization is approved for eligibility by the City of Sarnia, they can complete a licence application and email it to lottery@sarnia.ca. | Organization must work directly with AGCO to obtain licence. |
Forms
Questions
Email us at lottery@sarnia.ca or call 519-332-0330 Ext. 3131 for more information.