Lottery and Gaming Licensing

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) authorizes the Town of Oakville to provide local businesses with lottery and gaming licenses. The Town ensures all legal requirements, including terms and conditions to the licenses, are met by lottery licensees and any gaming supplies used by charities. The Criminal Code of Canada defines what types of gaming activities are illegal in Canada, and the provinces are assigned responsibility to operate, license and regulate legal forms of gaming.

Bingo Hall Operator

In order to own or operate a bingo hall in Ontario, you must be registered by the AGCO. Visit the AGCO website for more information.

What does the town license?

Raffle Lottery - A Raffle Lottery is a scheme where tickets are sold for a chance to win prizes and includes 50/50 draws, elimination draws, and calendar draws. Raffle lottery licences are available for total prizes of $50,000 and under.

Break Open Ticket (BOT) - A Break Open Ticket is a device made of cardboard and has a perforated cover window tabs behind which are symbols revealed by tearing open the cover tab. The winning combination of symbols is specified on the back of the ticket. Break Open Tickets are also known as Nevada tickets, pull tabs or BOTs.

Electronic Bingo (“Ebingo”) Centres were introduced by the AGCO in 2013. This program is not yet available to all eligible organizations, in accordance with Ontario Lottery Gaming (OLG) requirements. For eBingo inquiries, please contact the Town of Oakville’s Lottery Licensing Officer for more details at townclerk@oakville.ca or by phone at 905-815-6015.

If you are an eligible charitable, religious and non-profit organization, you may be able to raise funds through municipally licensed lottery events.

How is eligibility determined?

The Lottery Licensing Officer for the Town of Oakville will review all relevant documentation to determine eligibility for lottery licences. An Eligibility Review fee of $25 (non-refundable, payable to the Town of Oakville) and a completed Eligibility Questionnaire (pdf, 187 kB) must be submitted to the Town of Oakville for an eligibility review.

Organizations may be eligible if it:

  • Has been in existence for at least one year;
  • Has provided charitable community services consistent with a primary object and purpose of the organization for at least one year;
  • Demonstrates that it is established to provide charitable services in the Town of Oakville;
  • Proposes to use proceeds for charitable purposes that benefit Oakville and its residents; and
  • Assumes full responsibility for the conduct and management of its lottery events.