The Township of Guelph/Eramosa provides Lottery Licences for charitable gaming, as required by the Gaming Control Act, 1992. As part of the AGCO’s regulatory responsibilities in the charitable sector, municipalities may administer, in partnership with the AGCO, the regulatory framework governing the issuance of charitable lottery licences. (see Order-in-Council 1413/08).
The Township may issue lottery licences for the following lottery events being conducted within the community:
- Bingo events with prizes valued at up to $5,500.00
- Raffles with prizes valued at up to $50,000.00
- Break Open Ticket events which are not conducted in combination with any other events and where tickets are sold within the municipality
- Bazaar gaming events
- Media bingo with prizes valued at up to $5,500.00
To be eligible to receive a lottery licence, an organization must first have charitable purposes and objects that fall within one of the four classifications of charitability:
a) The Relief of Poverty
b) The Advancement of Education
c) The Advancement of Religion
d) Other Charitable Purposes Beneficial to the Community, not falling under a) b) or c)
Examples of eligible organizations include but are not limited to: minor sports leagues (under 18 years of age), service clubs and religious organizations.
An Application for Lottery Licensing Eligibility must be completed and submitted to the Legislative Services Department.
For more information, please see: Chapter 2 of Ontario’s Lottery Licensing Policy Manual.
There are different types of application processes for various types of lotteries including:
- Bazaar Licence
- Raffles
- Social Gaming Events
- Break Open Tickets
- Fair or Exhibition Gaming Event
- Bingo in Non-Pooling Bingo Halls
- Charitable Gaming Event in Pooling Bingo Hall
For Raffle Licences, please complete the Application to Manage and Conduct a Raffle Lottery Form and submit to the Legislative Services Department. Staff will review your application to ensure it meets the regulations stated in the Ontario’s Lottery Licensing Policy Manual. Your application should also include:
- A letter outlining the details of your raffle including the number of tickets that will be printed
- A sample copy of your raffle ticket and stub (Note that licensee’s name must appear on both the main ticket and the ticket stub and on all forms of advertising for the raffle, including brochures and handouts).
- For prizes worth more than $500: Legible copies of firm price quotation and a letter of intent, invoice or agreement to purchase each prize.
- For prizes totalling $10,000 or more: A letter of credit must be presented.
- Other documentation may be required depending on the type of raffle.
Also note that:
- Livestock must not be awarded as prizes
- Licensee must pay any duty, sales tax or other additional costs related to prizes. These costs must be included in the stated value of the prizes.
- The retail market value of the prizes to be awarded must not be less than 20% of the total value of all tickets printed
- The fee for the lottery licence is set in the Fees and Charges By-law and is 3% of the estimated total value of prizes.
Lottery Report forms must be submitted to Legislative Services within 30 days after the lottery event.
For more information on lottery licences, please contact Legislative Services at 519-856-9596 ext. 107 or email the Clerk's department.