Types of charitable gaming lottery licences

To conduct a lottery or raffle, or to sell break open tickets, you need a licence. There are many different types of licences.

Bingo events

These are games where you buy bingo cards and try to complete certain patterns with randomly drawn numbers to win prizes. 

Apply for a bingo event licence

Bingo Hall Charity Associations

Bingo hall charity associations may apply for a bingo hall charity association licence on behalf of their member organizations. In pooling bingo halls, money collected from licensed charitable gaming events (such as bingo, break open ticket lotteries and raffles) are pooled and distributed to the licensees and the bingo hall operator based on the bingo revenue model. The bingo revenue model applies to all pooling bingo halls.

Apply for a bingo hall charity association licence

Break open ticket

This is a cardboard ticket with hidden symbols. You tear open tabs to reveal symbols. The combinations on the back determine if you win. This licence allows you to sell tickets at one location.

If your organization provides a broad benefit to the residents of Ontario and meets the provincial break open ticket (BOT) licensing criteria, a provincial break open ticket licence lets you sell break open tickets at multiple locations across Ontario.

Apply for a break open ticket lottery licence

Break open ticket (Provincial or BOT+)

A provincial break open ticket licence allows charities and religious groups with a provincial mandate that are eligible for lottery licensing to manage break open ticket evens across Ontario. A BOT+ is a single ticket which includes a BOT and up to two other games (BOT or raffle).

Apply for a break open ticket licence (Provincial or BOT+)

Charitable Gaming Eligibility

Religious and charitable organizations who wish to get a lottery licence need to undergo an eligibility process with the AGCO. They must have a charitable gaming number (CGE) to get a lottery licence.

Apply for a charitable gaming eligibility number

Fair or exhibition gaming event

These are games at fairs or exhibitions, including blackjack and wheel of fortune games. Merchandise bingo can also be included.

Apply for a fair or exhibition gaming event lottery licence

Loonie progressive game

This is similar to progressive bingo, but it’s played separately and has a maximum prize of $5,000.

Apply for a loonie progressive game lottery licence

Progressive Bingo

This is a bingo game (typically at a bingo hall) that if the prize isn’t won at one event, it is added to the amount of the prize to be awarded at the next event in the series.

The progressive prize is allowed to increase at each successive event until the specified limit is reached or until the progressive game is won. It is a separately licensed bingo game that is played in conjunction with successive licensed regular bingo events.

Apply for a progressive bingo licence

Raffle lottery

You buy tickets for a chance to win prizes in various types of draws. These raffles might include 50/50, elimination draws, calendar draws, electronic raffles, and Catch the Ace.

Apply for a raffle lottery licence

Social gaming

These are casual games like cards or bingo, with small bets and total cash prizes that aren’t higher than $500 per day. Social games don’t charge fees or make money.  

Apply for a social gaming licence

Special occasion gaming

This is a limited gaming event (up to 20 blackjack tables or wheels of fortune) that is part of a social event, like a dinner or dance.

Apply for a special occasion gaming licence

Super jackpot

This is a special bingo game within a regular bingo event where the prize increases until someone wins by completing a specific pattern.

Apply for a super jackpot licence