Lottery Licence
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is responsible for administering the charitable lottery licensing program in Ontario. The AGCO and the City of Hamilton are responsible for issuing lottery licenses to eligible charitable and religious organizations running lottery schemes within the municipal borders of the city of Hamilton.
Types of Lottery Schemes
Lottery schemes that require a licence from the municipality:
- 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 for total prizes of $50,000 & under
- Bazaar lotteries which include: up to 3 wheels of fortune with a maximum bet of $2, raffles not exceeding $50,000, and bingo events up to $5,500
Lottery schemes that require a licence from the ACGO:
- Bingo events with prize boards over $5,500, super jackpots or progressive prizes
- Social Gaming Events
- Raffle lotteries for total prizes over $50,000
- Lotteries held in conjunction with another gaming event
- Electronic raffles
- Break Open Tickets sold by organizations with a provincial mandate
Illegal Lottery Scheme examples:
- Lottery schemes that benefit an individual or individuals that are not themselves a charitable organization (i.e. Stag and Does)
- Lottery schemes that are run by individuals that are not part of a charitable organization (i.e. an individual runs a 50/50 in support of a local charity)
- Lottery schemes that are run by businesses or other for-profit entities
- Eligible organizations running unlicensed lottery schemes (i.e. local sports team raffles)
Are you Eligible?
Apply for a Lottery Licence
- AGCO Raffle: Application | Terms and Conditions
- AGCO Blanket Raffle (multiple draw types): Application | Application - Part 2 | Terms and Conditions
- AGCO Bazaar: Application | Application - Part 2 | Terms and Conditions
- AGCO Break Open Ticket (Nevada): Application | Terms and Conditions
- AGCO Pooling Bingo: Application | Application - Part 2 | Application | Terms and Conditions
- AGCO Media Bingo: Application | Terms and Conditions
If the lottery type you require is not listed, it may not be licensed by the municipality.
Complete the application and submit the original copy by mail or drop it off to:
Licensing and By-Law Services
330 Wentworth Street North
Hamilton, ON
L8L 5W3
Monday & Wednesday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
One Stop - Business Licensing
City Hall, 1st Floor
71 Main Street West
Hamilton, ON
Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Email [email protected] call 905-546-2782 option 4
Applications may be paid for by cash, cheque, VISA, Mastercard or Interac. Please make all cheques payable to the City of Hamilton.
To Pay Online: After your application has been submitted and reviewed, you may request to pay online through a lottery administrator.
Please request your file reference number to make this payment. Be advised that this reference number is NOT your lottery licence number and should not be used on any printed material (i.e. tickets and advertisements).
Reporting on a Lottery Licence
Lottery reports are due 30 days after a lottery event is finished.
- AGCO Raffle and Bazaar Report
- AGCO Blanket Raffle Report
- AGCO Break Open Ticket (Nevada) Report
- AGCO Pooling Bingo Report
- AGCO Non-Pooling Bingo Report
- AGCO Media Bingo Report
Reports are to be submitted on-time to:
Licensing and By-Law Services
330 Wentworth Street North
Hamilton, ON
L8L 5W3
Monday & Wednesday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
One Stop - Business Licensing
City Hall, 1st Floor
71 Main Street West
Hamilton, ON
Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Email [email protected]