Lottery Licences

Municipalities have the authority to issue licenses for most lottery events conducted in their communities, including: 

• Bingo events

• Raffles

• Break Open Tickets

• Bazaar gaming events

As a lottery licensing authority, the Township of North Huron has a responsibility to follow the lottery licensing process set out by the AGCO. This includes: 

• Conducting eligibility reviews and maintaining current eligibility files;

• Reviewing and evaluating lottery applications and reports;

• Ensuring that proceeds are eligible and used in accordance with the licensee's charitable mandates;

• Ensuring compliance with any issued lottery license; and

• Reporting any breaches to the AGCO.

Once the applicant has (1) been deemed eligible, (2) opened a Lottery Trust Bank Account, and (3) submitted a copy of the account information to the Clerk's Department, an application to conduct a lottery may be completed.

Eligibility review applications are to be completed every two (2) years to ensure that the information held by the Township is up-to-date and that your organization remains eligible to hold a license for lottery schemes. 

An organization must have completed an Eligibility Review New Applicant and Renewal Package.

If your organization is interested in conducting a lottery license, please contact the North Huron Lottery Licensing Officer to inquire about your organization's eligibility.  

Charitable organizations may be permitted to conduct a lottery scheme to raise funds once a license is issued. Organizations must have demonstrated charitable or religious mandate to 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 Organizations 
  • Enhancement of Public Safety
  • Community Service Organizations (Legion, Rotary, Lions, etc.)

In addition, an organization must also demonstrate the following in order to be deemed eligible: 

• Have been in existence for at least one year;
• Provide charitable community services consistent with a primary objective and purpose of the organization for at least one year;
• Demonstrate that the organization is established to provide charitable services in the Township of North Huron;
• Use proceeds for charitable purposes that benefit the Township of North Huron and its residents;
• Assume full responsibility for the conduct and management of its lottery events; and
• Be deemed eligible to conduct lotteries and open a Lottery Trust Bank Account.

The Township of North Huron has the authority to only issue a lottery license to organization's that are operating a lottery within the Township boundaries. If your organization will be operating the lottery outside of the municipal boundaries of the Township of North Huron, please refer to the municipal office that your organization will be conducting the lottery within. 

Please note an individual is not eligible for a lottery license, nor are the following organizations:

• Social Clubs;
• Professional Associations, Union, 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 Social Club (e.g., golf/curling);
• Adult Sports Teams;
• Individual Youth Sports Teams;
• Organizations Established Solely for the purpose of fundraising.

• Provision of personal benefit or gain for members of the applicant organization;
• Supporting tourism or other purely economic benefits;
• Advancing a particular political issue;
• Enhancing lands and buildings owned and/or operated by a government;
• A responsibility traditionally fulfilled by a government; and
• Funding activities that do not fall within one of the four charitable classifications.

All financial lottery activity must be conducted in a lottery trust account. This account must be used solely for lottery activity and cannot be used for other purposes, such as the proceeds from other types of fundraisers. The types of accounts may vary depending on the bank. For example, the account may be called a 'community organization account', or something similar. Accounts must be set up to include monthly statements and images of cheques, which must be submitted to the Township with the lottery reports. An organization may use one account for all lottery activity, or have separate accounts for each type of lottery held.

Lottery funds must be held separately in order to protect them, especially in the case of dissolution. For instance, lottery proceeds cannot be used to pay debts or creditors. A dissolution clause in the organization's constitution will ensure that these funds are protected. Two signing officers who are bona fide members of the organization are required for the account. All withdrawals from the account must be made by cheque and no transfers are allowed.

For further information regarding Lottery Trust Accounts, please refer to the AGCO's website here.

Documentation is required which supports the contents of the lottery report. These items will include:

• Receipts for expenses;
• Name and address of winner(s);
• A copy of a ticket used, for raffle lotteries;
• Funds disbursement information;
• Bank statements for the lottery trust account; and
• Cheque images for payments made from the lottery trust account.

It is important to keep track of the financial particulars over the course of the license, especially when the lottery extends for a significant time period.

Please include and complete a North Huron Lottery Report Checklist with your lottery report submission to the Township of North Huron.

1. Ensure that your eligibility information is up-to-date with the Township.

2. Review the Bingo License Terms and Conditions.

3. Complete the Application to Manage and Conduct a Bingo Lottery and the Bingo Application Checklist with the supporting documentation.

4. Submit the checklist, application form and the supporting documentation to the North Huron Lottery Licensing Officer for review.

Following a bingo lottery event, your organization must submit a Charitable Gaming Report within 30 days of holding the lottery. A report can be submitted to the North Huron Lottery Licensing Officer by mail, fax, email or in person at the Township Office.

To assist with the information and documentation to be provided, please refer to the North Huron Lottery Report Checklist or contact the North Huron Lottery Licensing Officer.

Permitted types of raffles include: 

• Stub draw 

• Elimination draw

• Calendar draw

• "Golf ball drop" raffle lottery

• Rubber duck race

• 50/50 draw (paper-based)

• Blanket raffle

• Meat spin/turkey roll

• "Name the Raffle" lottery

• Bossy bingo/cow patty bingo

• Auction-style raffles 

• Catch the Ace (non-electronic)

1. Ensure your eligibility is up-to-date with the Township. 

2. Review the Raffle License Terms and Conditions.

3. Complete the Application to Manage and Control a Raffle Lottery or the Application to Manage and Conduct a Blanket Raffle Lottery, and the Raffle Application Checklist and gather supporting documentation.

4. Submit the checklist, application form and the supporting documentation to the North Huron Lottery Licensing Officer for review.

Following the commencement of a raffle lottery event, your organization must submit a Raffle Lottery Report or Blanket Raffle Lottery Report within 30 days of holding the lottery. Your report can be submitted to the Township of North Huron by mail, fax, email or in person at the Township Office.

A raffle lottery report must include the following when submitted:

• A list of prize winners

• An itemized list of administrative costs (licensing fee, ticket purchase/printing fees, etc.)

• Lottery trust account bank statements and copies of cheques and invoices for expenses and use of lottery proceeds

To assist with the information and documentation to be provided, please refer to the North Huron Lottery Report Checklist or contact the North Huron Lottery Licensing Officer.

1. Ensure your organizations eligibility is up-to-date with the Township.

2. Review the Break Open Ticket License Terms and Conditions.

3. Complete the Break Open Ticket License Application, the Break Open Ticket Application Checklist and gather supporting documentation.

4. Submit the checklist, application form and the supporting documentation to the North Huron Lottery Licensing Officer for review.

Following the commencement of a break open lottery event, your organization must submit a Break Open Ticket Lottery Report  within 30 days after the license has ended or the last ticket has been sold. Your report can be submitted to the Township of North Huron by mail, fax, email or in person at the Township Office. 

A break open ticket lottery report must include the following when submitted:  

To assist with the information and documentation to be provided, please refer to the North Huron Lottery Report Checklist or contact the North Huron Lottery Licensing Officer.