Where to get a lottery licence

Charitable gaming lottery licences are issued by the AGCO and by municipalities in Ontario. Find out which licensing authority issues the licence you want.

On this page

Select a link below to navigate directly the respective section of the page.

Which licensing authority you should apply to

Overview

The licensing authority you go to depends on where the event will be located, the expected prize amount, and the type of lottery. 

Which licensing authority you should apply to


Municipality

Apply with your municipality for:

  • bingo events, with prize boards of up to $5,500
  • media bingo events
  • merchandise bingo events
  • break open tickets for local organizations where they are not to be sold in conjunction with another gaming event
  • raffle lotteries for total prizes up to $50,000
  • bazaar lotteries which include wheels of fortune with a maximum bet of $2.00  
  • blanket raffle lotteries  

If you want to apply for a licence from your municipality, you must contact them directly. They will provide you with more information about how to apply and any fees you must pay. The municipality may include extra conditions to a licence, as long as they don’t conflict with the rules and standards the province sets.  

Find Charitable gaming forms for municipal applications and reporting

AGCO

Apply with the AGCO for:

  • all lotteries conducted in unorganized territories, on Crown lands (like a Canadian Forces Base) or in some First Nations communities
  • bingo events with a prize board over $5,500
  • bingo events conducted in conjunction with other licensed lottery events
  • super jackpot bingo events
  • progressive bingo game events and loonie progressive games
  • table board bingo events where:
    • held in conjunction with a Regular Bingo event and where the Table Board Bingo prizes are in addition to the maximum Regular Bingo prize board. The Bingo Sponsors’ Association must apply for the licence.
    • held in conjunction with a Special (Monster) Bingo event, where the Table Board Bingo prizes are in addition to the special bingo prize board. The Bingo Sponsors’ Association must apply for this type of Table Board Bingo event.
  • special occasion gaming event
  • raffle lotteries for total prizes over $50,000
  • electronic raffles
  • break open ticket lotteries where the licensed organization has a provincial mandate (allows eligible organizations can sell break open tickets from one (1) location in each municipality across Ontario)
  • break open ticket lotteries where the event is to be conducted in conjunction with another licensed lottery event
  • fairs or exhibitions’ lotteries
  • lotteries held with another gaming event, including break open tickets at bingo events 

Apply for a charitable gaming lottery licence