Licensed lottery events help charities and non-profit organizations raise funds to support local programs and services. Proceeds raised from a lottery directly benefit the greater Kingston community.
A lottery event contains three elements:
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) manages the charitable lottery licensing program. The Order-In-Council sets the rules for which types of lottery events are allowed and explains the licensing responsibilities of both municipal and provincial authorities.
Licensed charitable, religious and non-profit organizations must organize and manage their lottery events according to these licensing policies and the licence’s terms and conditions, and meet all necessary reporting requirements.
Information on how to manage lottery events can be found in the AGCO’s Lottery Licensing Policy Manual. The manual outlines the legal and policy framework and administrative procedures for lottery licensing purposes.
We issue licences for the following types of lotteries:
If you are a qualified charity or religious organization, once you identify what type of lottery your organization wants to conduct, email licensingapplications@cityofkingston.ca or call 613-546-4291 ext.3150 to connect with an agent. They will provide the necessary information and the application form. Once you complete the form, bring your application and applicable licence fee to the Licensing Division at 1211 John Counter Blvd for review.
Note: Lottery licence fees are set at 3 per cent of the total value of the prize(s).
How long does it take to process the application?
Qualified organizations that have held a lottery licence with the City of Kingston within the past two years can expect a licence within 10 business days of submitting their application.
Applications from new organizations take about 25 days. We are required to conduct a qualification review process to determine eligibility.
Who can get a lottery licence?
Only charities and religious organizations are permitted to conduct lotteries to raise funds for charitable or religious purposes according to the issued lottery licence. Typically, these include bingos, raffles, break open tickets and social gaming events held by charitable and religious organizations. Charities are regulated by licensing policies and the terms and conditions of licences issued by the Province or Municipality.
Organizations must demonstrate a charitable or religious mandate to qualify.
"Charitable" refers to organizations which provide programs and services to Ontario residents for:
To be eligible for a lottery licence, organizations must:
Several games do not require a licence. A list of these can be found in the Lottery Licensing Policy Manual.
Some examples include:
If you have more questions email licensingapplications@cityofkingston.ca
In Canada, the Criminal Code controls all gaming licences. It is illegal for individuals or organizations without a proper licence to hold lottery events. The Criminal Code also bans sports pool raffles, raffles by donation (a donation in lieu of a purchase price for tickets), and "scratch and win" lotteries.
Contact
Licensing Applications
1211 John Counter Blvd.
Kingston, ON K7K 6C7
licensingapplications
@cityofkingston.ca
Phone: 613-546-4291 ext. 3150
The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.
Today, the City is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation.
Learn more about the City's reconciliation initiatives.
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