Lottery Licences

You can apply for a lottery licence in the Township of West Lincoln if you belong to a charitable or religious organization. The Government of Ontario and the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) regulate lottery licences in Ontario.

Apply for a lottery licence

To apply for a lottery licence, please contact the Clerk's department at 905-957-3346 or visit us at 318 Canborough Street in Smithville between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm from Monday to Friday. Applications may also be downloaded from the AGCO website.

What is a lottery?

A lottery is defined as any arrangement that has a prize, a chance to win a prize and a fee to enter. The Township of West Lincoln has the authority to issue licences for most lottery events including:

• Bingo events with prize boards up to $5,500
• Raffles with prize boards up to $50,000
• Break Open/Nevada ticket events within the municipality
• Bazaar gaming events
• Media bingo

Lottery licence eligibility

Canada's Criminal Code allows charitable and religious organizations to conduct a lottery scheme to raise funds once a licence is issued. Organizations must have a demonstrated charitable or religious mandate that provide programs for relief of poverty, advancement of education, advancement of religion or other charitable purposes beneficial to the community.

To be eligible for a lottery licence, your organization must meet the following criteria:

• Your organization must be in existence for at least one year.
• Your organization must have a place of business in Ontario.
• Your organization must demonstrate that they provide charitable services and the proceeds will benefit Ontario residents.

Frequently asked questions