Canada's Criminal Code permits only charitable organizations to conduct lottery schemes to raise funds under a valid lottery licence. Organizations must have a demonstrated charitable or religious mandate to qualify.
Charitable purposes
The courts have determined that charitable organizations provide programs for:
- Relief of poverty
- Advancement of education
- Advancement of religion
- Other charitable purposes that benefit the community
Eligibility requirements
To be eligible for a lottery licence, an organization must:
- Have been in existence for at least one (1) year
- Have a place of business in Ontario
- Have a primary purpose of providing charitable services in Ontario
- Use lottery proceeds for charitable objects or purposes that benefit Ontario residents
How eligibility is determined
The organization's primary purposes are assessed by considering:
- Its mandate as outlined in incorporation documents, constitution, or bylaws
- The objectives described in the lottery licence application
- The services the organization has provided to the community
Organizations that are not eligible
The following organizations are not considered charitable and are not eligible for a lottery licence:
- Social clubs
- Professional associations, unions, and employee groups
- Elected representative groups, including municipal, regional, provincial, and federal governments
- Government ministries, agencies, or bodies
- Political lobby groups
- Political parties
- Adult hobby groups
- Private sports clubs (e.g., golf or curling clubs)
- Adult sports teams
