The Town of Midland issues lottery licenses to eligible charities and religious organizations within the community for the purpose of raising funds through events such as bingos, raffles, and break-open tickets. As per the Criminal Code of Canada, all lotteries and raffles are required to have a license.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) administers the charitable lottery licensing program in the province.
Types of licensed lottery events
We have the authority to issue lottery licenses for:
- Bingo events, with prize boards of up to $5,500.
- Media bingo events with prizes up to $5,500.
- Break-open tickets for local organizations.
- Raffle lotteries with total prizes of up to $50,000.
Before you apply
If you are not currently licensed by the Town of Midland to conduct a lottery or have not been licensed in the past two years, and you must complete and submit the Questionnaire Form along with your supporting documentation and any fees, to the Town.
Eligible organizations
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is responsible for regulating charitable gaming in the Province. The AGCO provides that only non-profit charitable groups may be eligible to obtain lottery licenses. You must meet the following mandatory pre-requisites to be considered eligible for a lottery license.
Your organization must:
- Be a non-profit or registered charitable organization.
- Have been in existence for at least one year.
- Has provided charitable community services with goals and activities that are consistent with the mandate of the organization for at least one year in Midland.
- Have a place of business in Ontario.
- Prove how it benefits the citizens of Midland and area as a whole.
- Conduct one of the following primary purposes: Relief of poverty, advancement of education, advancement of religion, or other charitable purposes beneficial to the community, such as, culture and the arts, health and welfare, amateur sports organizations, the enhancement of youth, public safety programs, and community service organizations.
- Be properly organized such that it is separate from any other organization (e.g. legally, financially and organizationally).
- Assume full responsibility for the conduct and management of its event.
Ineligible organizations
Organizations that are not be eligible to apply include:
- Adult hobby groups.
- Adult recreational or adult-oriented sports (e.g. hockey teams).
- Elected municipal representative groups, including municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments.
- Government agencies or bodies.
- Political lobby groups and those persuading the public to adopt a particular view on a broad social question.
- Political parties.
- Private sports or clubs (e.g. golfing, curling).
- Professional associations, unions and employee groups.
- Professional or semi-professional athletics (e.g. CFL, NHL, AHL, OHL).
- Social clubs.
- Those attempting to bring about or oppose changes in the law or government policy.
- Those promoting a political doctrine.
Individuals and businesses are not eligible for lottery licenses e.g., Buck and Doe events.
Apply for a lottery license
Details on each license and corresponding application and report forms are linked below.
Bingo
Bingo is a game of chance where players are awarded a prize or prizes for being the first to complete a specified arrangement of numbers on bingo paper, based on numbers selected at random.
Break Open Ticket
"Break Open Ticket” (BOTs) are instant-win lottery tickets, commonly known as “pull tab” or “Nevada” tickets and the brand name “Pocket Slots.”
Break open tickets:
- are made of cardboard,
- have one or more perforated cover window tabs that conceal winning and losing numbers or symbols,
- are played by tearing off the cover tabs,
- include deal cards and bingo event tickets.
- Break Open Ticket Application Form
- Break Open Ticket Report Form
- Break Open Ticket Application and Report Checklist
Raffles
A raffle is a lottery scheme where tickets are sold for a chance to win a prize in a draw within a capped prize amount of $50,000 for total prizes.
A Blanket Raffle allows for more than one type of lottery scheme to be conducted under a single lottery license. A blanket raffle can be issued for a fixed time period (maximum of 6 months) and has a maximum total prize value of $50,000.00.
- Blanket Raffle Application Form
- Blanket Raffle Report Form
- Blanket Raffle Application and Report Checklist
Submit all applications and reports to the Municipal Clerk in-person during business hours (Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) at the Municipal Office, or by email.