9.2.1. General Bingo Licensing Policies

  1. A charitable organization must submit its application to the local municipality, regardless of the type of bingo game it wishes to conduct and the amount of the prize board.
  2. An eligible charitable organization may be licensed to conduct more than one Regular Bingo event per day. A separate event time, a separate prize board and separate bingo paper must be sold for each event listed on the licence.
  3. Licensees may not combine prize boards from more than one event, unless otherwise approved by the Registrar.
  4. Licensees must sell bingo paper only on the day of the event. The paper must be used for the event for which it is sold. Bingo paper must be identified by event, to ensure that unused paper is not used at a later event. The licensee must set up audit procedures to account for all sales and unsold bingo paper per event.
  5. Licensees must record and account for all cash transactions, including bingo paper sold and prizes awarded.
  6. There is no minimum time requirement between bingo events, provided the licensee meets the terms and conditions and all policy requirements for the bingo licence, and maintains a proper audit trail for each event.
  7. All signing officers and designated members-in-charge of lottery events must be bona fide members of the organization, and must be at least 18 years of age.
  8. A minimum of three (3) designated bona fide members must be present and in charge of the conduct and management of the event.
  9. Game schedules may be made up of different games and prize payouts. Schedules may include regular and special games, including jackpot games licensed by municipalities and games licensed by the Registrar, such as Super Jackpot and Progressive bingo games.
  10. Game schedules must include the starting and ending times for each session in which the licensed Regular Bingo event, and any events to be conducted in conjunction with it, will be held. The maximum prize payouts for each game must be included as well.
  1. Licensees may conduct and manage a variable bingo game up to the maximum licensed prize board. If a licensee awards multiple prizes in one game, the prize total for the game cannot exceed the maximum of the Regular Bingo event prize board.
  2. Licensees may offer jackpot games as part of the Regular Bingo event prize board. The jackpot prize may be awarded within a set designated number of calls. However, if the jackpot is not won within the designated number of calls, the consolation prize must be awarded. For jackpot games, neither the number nor prize amount can be progressive in nature.
  3. The Registrar will not license provincial games held in conjunction with a Regular Bingo event where the jackpot is 100 per cent of the prize board.
  4. The licensee must announce all prize payouts as approved on the game schedule before the game begins.
  5. The licensee must establish a policy for large-numbered or Braille bingo paper for the visually impaired. The Registrar will not require manufacturers of this bingo paper to be registered under the Gaming Control Act, 1992 unless they are involved in other activities requiring registration.
  6. Break open tickets may be awarded as prizes for a Regular Bingo event provided the following conditions are met:
  • the prize value must be based on the purchase price of the tickets;
  • the cash value of the tickets to be awarded as prizes must be shown on the game schedule and approved by the licensing authority;
  • break open tickets may only be awarded as bingo prizes to the winner of a Regular Bingo game, and not as the result of a draw or any other means of declaring a winner;
  • the licensee must establish a procedure, approved by the licensing authority, to determine how prizes will be awarded to multiple winners;
  • any advertising that includes break open tickets must be forwarded to the licensing authority for prior approval; and
  • the licensee must follow all other policies and the terms and conditions for Regular Bingo events.
  1. A licensee may charge a reduced price for bingo paper, provided the discount is listed on the game schedule and the licensing authority approves the pricing proposal. The licensee must submit its proposed discounts with its game schedule. The licensee may also apply to sell two (2) sheets of paper with six (6) sets of bingo numbers for the usual price of a single sheet with twelve sets. The licensee must monitor all discounts and provide a clear audit trail.
  2. Bingo licences must not be issued for bingo events to be conducted and managed on any conveyance that moves or is capable of moving, including but not limited to boats, trains and airplanes.
  3. When licensed to be conducted in a bingo hall, bingo may not be played outdoors.

9.2.2. CONFLICT OF INTEREST GUIDELINES

Bingo licensees must comply with the following conflict of interest guidelines, in addition to the general conflict of interest guidelines outlined in “3.5.3. General conflict of interest guidelines”:

  1. Licensees may not permit their bona fide members or persons acting as runners, cashiers or in other capacities for the licensed organization to play bingo while they are conducting the bingo, or play any other games held in conjunction with their event.
  2. Employees who are involved in the conduct of the bingo events, whether they are registered or not, may not play bingo at that hall at any time.
  3. Members of a licensee’s Board of Directors, including a HCA, may not personally benefit or profit in any way from a lottery event conducted and managed by the licensee or play bingo at that hall at any time.
  4. Bingo hall employees and managers cannot act as bona fide members for the conduct of any licensed bingo event or a break open ticket lottery held in conjunction with the bingo event.