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Apply for a charity gaming permit or lottery licence

Only eligible charities and not-for-profit organizations can get a charity gaming permit or lottery licence to hold a lottery event in Mississauga.

A lottery event is where money, a donation or other consideration (such as a service or membership) is given for a chance to win a prize. Lottery events can raise money to help fund charitable programs or services for:

  • Relief of poverty
  • Education
  • Religion
  • Community benefits in areas such as culture and arts, health and welfare, amateur sports, youth, public safety and community service

The lottery funds raised must not be the main source of funding for your charity or organization.

Ineligible organizations include hobby groups, political lobby groups and for-profit organizations.

Requirements

You must apply for eligibility before you can apply for a lottery licence or permit. If you were previously found eligible, contact us for next steps.

To become eligible, you must provide:

  • A completed lottery licensing eligibility application signed with original signatures by 2 voting board members (president and treasurer or vice-president)
  • Letters patent or articles of incorporation
  • Revenue Canada registration approval letter
  • Your organization’s constitution or by-laws bearing the date adopted and signatures of two directing officers
  • General dissolution clause
  • Additional dissolution clause for eligible organizations getting a lottery licence
  • Not-for-profit annual return (4022) or CRA – T3010 if you are a registered charity
  • Complete executive board list with names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and their term of office expiry date
  • Financial year-end statements that include all sources of income and all expenses for the past two years, signed by two voting board members
  • Budget for your current year charitable programs and services

Lottery licence and permit requirements

Each type of lottery licensed or permitted by the City has its own application and requirements. We’ll work with you to determine the licence or permit after we confirm you’re eligible to apply.

Bingo events licence or permit

The City issues a bingo licence or permit for bingo events with prize boards of up to $5,500.

If your event uses paper sheets or cards, whether it’s in a bingo hall or your own location, you need a licence regulated under the ACGO.

If your event takes place in a cGaming centre using electronic touchscreens, you need a permit regulated under the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

Licence requirements

Organizations applying to play bingo at a bingo hall can contact the charity coordinator to review the hall requirements at:

Delta Bingo
4141 Dixie Road
deltamississauga1650@gmail.com

Permit requirements

When we work with you, we’ll provide you with:

  • The cGaming Eligibility and Use of Proceeds document from the OLG and the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association (OCGA)
  • The OLG Polices and Standards

Organizations applying to play bingo at a cGaming centre can contact the charity coordinator to review the hall requirements at:

Rama Gaming Centre
2295 Battleford Road
charitycoordinator1@outlook.com

Raffle licence

This licence covers raffles with a total prize value of $50,000 or less. Raffles with a total prize value of more than $50,000 or electronic raffles must be licensed by the AGCO, not the City of Mississauga.

The City licenses different types of raffles, such as:

  • 50/50 draws
  • Stub draws
  • Catch the Ace

Requirements

For vehicles awarded as prizes

Vehicles must be new and can’t be offered as a lease. You must provide a bill of sale or a confirmation letter from the dealership indicating make, model, options and full retail value including all applicable taxes.

For trips awarded as prizes

  • Proof that the trip was arranged by a travel agent registered with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO)
  • Trips must not have hidden costs, blackout dates or outstanding payments
  • Proof of accommodation
  • Each trip must include travel from the destination train station, bus station, airport or port to the lodgings and back, including gratuities
  • You must provide the details of what’s included, such as food or event admission
  • A minimum $500 cash prize in lieu of the trip

Break open ticket licence

Break open tickets are small cardboard lottery tickets. Symbols on the ticket are revealed by tearing open the cover tab, and the winning combination of symbols is shown on the back of the ticket.

Requirements

Bazaar gaming events licence

A bazaar is an event for charity, such as a rummage sale or a fundraiser. These events can include any combination of a:

  • Raffle not exceeding $50,000 in prizes
  • Bingo not exceeding $5,500 in prizes
  • Maximum of three wheels of fortune with a $2 maximum bet

Requirements

Licence and permit fees

The licence and permit fees depend on the type of lottery event and the value of the prizes. We will work with you to determine your unique licence and permit fees after we confirm your eligibility.

How to apply

If you aren’t eligible, you can’t get a licence or permit. Only complete applications will be reviewed.

Apply to determine your eligibility

  1. Complete and provide your lottery licensing eligibility application and all supporting documents by email, mail or in person.

By email

Email your lottery licensing eligibility application and all required supporting documents for your type of event to charity.gaming@mississauga.ca.

In person

Call 311 (905-615-4311 outside city limits) to submit a request for an appointment. Someone from the Charity Gaming Office will help you book an appointment. Bring your lottery licensing eligibility application and all supporting documents to the appointment.

By mail

Send your lottery licensing eligibility application and all required supporting documents to:

Charity Gaming
Licensing, Permits and Regulatory Services
950 Burnhamthorpe Road West
Mississauga, ON L5C 3B4

  1. Within four weeks of receiving your complete application, we’ll contact you for the next steps.

Set up your designated account

Once your eligibility application is approved, you need to set up a designated lottery trust account for licences or a designated business account for permits with a recognized Ontario financial institution. Each requires specific record-keeping and accounting documents.

Our office will provide you with details when we approve your eligibility.

Apply for your licence or permit

After we determine you’re eligible to run a lottery event, and after you’ve set up your designated banking account:

  1. We will work with you by phone or email until you’re ready to apply for your licence or permit. This could take a few weeks.
  2. We will help you apply for the specific lottery licence or charity gaming permit you require.
  3. We’ll let you know the calculated licence or permit fee cost.
  4. You pay the calculated licence or permit fee.

We will process your specific application and issue your licence or permit, usually within 15 business days. Your licence or permit will be mailed to you, or you can pick it up at our office by appointment only at 950 Burnhamthorpe Road West.

The original copy of your licence or permit must be posted at your event.

Contact us

If you need more information about applying for a lottery licence or permit, call 311 (905-615-4311 outside city limits) or email charity.gaming@mississauga.ca.

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