Raffle Licensing

A raffle lottery is a scheme where tickets are sold for a chance to win a prize at a draw and includes 50/50 draws, elimination draws, and calendar draws.

A municipality may issue a license to eligible local charitable or religious organizations for ticket raffle lotteries where the total value of the prizes to be awarded does not exceed $50,000.

The licensee must conduct and manage the event in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the license. Please visit the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario's website for more details.

Raffle applications take three weeks to process. Your organization cannot print or sell any tickets until your license has been issued.

Application Requirements:

Complete all sections of the  application. Your organization's principal officers must supply original signatures.

Prizes valued between $0 and $5,000

• draft copy of the raffle ticket (see ticket requirements attached)
• license fee - 3 per cent of the total prize value with a minimum of $5. (cheque written on the Lottery Trust Account payable to the Town of Newmarket)
• any changes or amendments to the requirements
• membership list, if necessary

Prizes valued between $5,000 and $50,000

• same requirements as those for prizes valued between $0 and $5,000
• covering letter from your organization outlining the aims and purposes of the organization. A detailed explanation of how the proceeds of the lottery will be used, together with a timetable outlining the planned printing date of the tickets and when tickets sales will begin.
• copy of the rules to be printed on the ticket including dates of all draws.
• copy of the budget for the lottery event.
• a letter from the prize supplier(s) identifying the prize(s) and the cost of the prize(s).
• a Letter of Credit in the amount of the prize value, payable to the Treasurer, Town of Newmarket and with an expiry date 45 days after the event.

Reports:

Raffle Reports must be filed within 30 days of the date of the last draw. The following documents shall accompany the lottery report:

• copies of all original stamped deposit slips related to the event
• a list of winners
• where list published and/or posted
• receipts for expenses
• original stamped monthly bank statement and cancelled cheques

Reports from any previous lottery licenses must be up to date before any new license will be issued.