Lottery Licence

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) authorizes Norfolk County to provide lottery and gaming licences to local charities, non-profit organizations, and other eligible organizations.

Lottery licensing and eligibility

• The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) authorizes Norfolk County to issue lottery and gaming licences to local charities, non-profit organizations, and other eligible organizations. 
• Norfolk County ensures that lottery licensees and any gaming supplies used by charities meet all legal requirements, including licence terms and conditions.
• The Criminal Code of Canada defines what types of gaming activities are illegal in Canada, and the provinces are responsible for operating, licensing, and regulating legal forms of gaming.

Organizations eligible for lottery licensing

If your organization is interested in lottery licensing, please submit a Lottery Licensing Eligibility Review Application and supporting documents to the County Clerk's Office.

A registered charitable, non-profit, or religious organization may conduct a lottery scheme to raise funds to qualify for a lottery licence if it has a demonstrated charitable or religious mandate.

"Charitable" refers to organizations which provide programs for:

• Relief of poverty
• Advancement of education
• Advancement of religion
• Other charitable purposes beneficial to the community such as:
  • culture and the arts
  • health and welfare
  • amateur sports organization
  • enhancement of youth
  • enhancement of public safety
  • community service organizations (Legion, Rotary, Lions, etc.)

Your organization must:

• have been in existence and have provided charitable community services consistent with the goals and activities of the organization for at least one year in Norfolk County;
• proposes to use the proceeds for charitable programs and services that benefit Norfolk County and its residents; and
• assumes full responsibility for the conduct and management of the lottery event.

Norfolk County can only issue a lottery licence to an organization operating a lottery within the county boundaries.

Visit the (AGCO) website for more information on lottery and gaming.

Organizations not eligible for lottery licensing

An individual is not eligible for a lottery licence. 

Organizations that only promote the private interests of their members do not qualify for lottery licensing. This may include but is not limited to:

• social clubs
• professional associations, unions, employee groups
• elected representative groups, including municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments
• government ministries, agents or bodies
• political lobby groups and those attempting to persuade the public to adopt a particular view on a political issue
• political parties
• adult hobby groups
• private sports club (e.g., golf/curling)
• adult sports teams or hobby groups
• individual youth sports teams
• organizations established solely for the purpose of fundraising

Applying for lottery licensing

If this is your first time receiving lottery licensing in Norfolk County, please complete the Lottery Licensing Eligibility Review Application and provide supporting documents to the County Clerk's Office.

Once approved, determine what type of lottery scheme (raffle, bingo, break open ticket) your organization intends to conduct and complete the application form to submit to the County Clerk's Office.

The following Lottery Licence application forms are available on the AGCO website:

• Raffle Licences
• Bazaar Licence
• Break Open Ticket Licence
• Bingo Licence

Processing timelines

Please be advised that it may take up to 4 weeks to process your application and issue your licence. If an eligibility review is required, this will increase the processing time. To ensure your application is processed as quickly as possible, please submit all required information, including:

• Completed application form
• Sample of a lottery ticket (if applicable)
• All required signatures
• Contact information (including name, e-mail or phone) to ensure quick licence pick-up
• Lottery licence fee: 3% of total prize value payable by cheque to Norfolk County

Application changes

• If you make changes to your licence application package before you submit it to the licensing office, each change must be initiated on each document by the licence application signors and other signors of that document.
• Changes to your submitted licence application package must be made in writing on your organization's letterhead, be signed by the licence application signors and include supporting documents that are affected. We require at least two (2) weeks' written notice.
• Application changes are not automatically approved and may not be permitted.
• Once your lottery licence is issued, requests for changes to the use of proceeds must be approved by the licensing Officer in advance. Expired licences may not be amended or cancelled.

Incomplete applications

•  All information, including appropriate documentation and fees, must be included with your application.
• Incomplete packages will be returned to your organization.
• Your organization cannot print or sell tickets until you are licensed, and all tickets must indicate the licence number.
• It is your responsibility to notify the licensing office of any changes to your organization, such as changes to your board of directors, signing officers, programs, and services.

Lottery licence terms and conditions

Activities are regulated by the Criminal Code of Canada, Sections 206 and 207, Ontario Order in Council 1413/08, Gaming Control Act, 1992 and Regulations.

Licensees and applicants are advised to:

• Read the first three chapters of the Lottery Licensing Policy Manual (LLPM) and the chapter related to the lottery type intended to be conducted. 
• Read and understand your event Licence Terms and Conditions before proceeding with the application package.
• Read the terms and conditions for your lottery type and any additional documents that may relate to their lottery type. 
• Access the most recent versions of all these documents from the Charitable gaming | Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario on the AGCO website.
• Keep a copy of all licence application documents for your records.
• Obtain copies of the Gaming Control Act and Regulations, Provisional Information, Bulletins, and forms from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) website.

Reporting requirements

Lottery reports are due 30 days after a lottery event is finished using the Lottery Report Template. Reports are to be submitted on time to:

Email: licensing@norfolkcounty.ca

Norfolk County
Clerk's Department
50 Colborne St S,
Simcoe, ON
N3Y 4H3

Contact us

For all lottery services, please email licensing@norfolkcounty.ca to connect with the County's Licensing Offer.

Please visit the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) website for more information about how the OLG operates gaming services.