You will need a lottery licence to operate a charitable gaming event in Newfoundland and Labrador. Charitable and non-profit organizations’ lottery fundraising activities are regulated by the Department of Digital Government and Service NL.
- What is a Lottery?
- Types of Lotteries and Rules
- Selling Tickets Online
- How to Apply
- Who Qualifies?
- Lottery Proceeds
- Submitting Your Financial Reports
- Have a Complaint?
- Charitable Gaming Statistics
What is a Lottery?
A lottery is any game in which you are required to pay a fee or give something to enter (“consideration”). There is a draw or some way that a winner is randomly picked (“chance”), and a prize is won.
In this province there are two main types of lotteries or gaming:
- Commercial: games that are conducted by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation on behalf of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Charitable: games that are conducted by charitable and not-for-profit organizations for charitable purposes.
A promotional contest is when you have a chance to win with purchase. These are not normally considered lotteries as most promotional contests have a no purchase necessary element and a skill testing question. For more information on promotional contests contact theCompetition Bureau of Canada.
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Types of Lotteries and Rules
- Bingos
- Breakopen
- Bingo – Breakopen
- Chase the Ace
- Games of Chance
- Monte Carlo
- Sports Betting Lotteries
- Ticket Lotteries
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How to Apply
Use our online application to apply for a lottery licence. To process your application in a timely manner make sure you fully and accurately complete the information. If you are applying for a ticket lottery, please include a sample ticket. You can use our sample ticket as a guide to develop your own.
If you wish to obtain a paper application, please call (709) 729-2600; toll free at 1-877-968-2600 or email lotterylicence@gov.nl.ca
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Who Qualifies?
Charitable or religious organizations, or incorporated not-for-profit organizations with charitable objects or purposes, may be eligible to apply for a charitable lottery licence.
Groups that qualify:
- Incorporated Not-For-Profit organizations with charitable purposes.
- Sports and recreation groups that have a validLotteries Amateur Sports Certification. The certification must be completed by the sport’s Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) and emailed to SportNL at the address on the application. SportNL will confirm if the PSO is registered and will then forward the completed form to the lottery licensing officer as confirmation.
- Recreation groups that have a validLotteries Recreation Certification.
- Volunteer fire departments registered with the Office of theFire Commissioner.
- Seniors groups that areIncorporated Not-For-Profitor a member in good standing of the Newfoundland and Labrador Pensioners, Senior Citizens/50+ Federation.
- K-12 schools and College and University groups.
- Service clubs who areIncorporated Not-For-Profit or are affiliated with grand lodges or chapters.
- Scouting, guiding and cadet groups.
Terms and Conditions
Some groups must have their application signed or validated before a licence can be issued. Groups and signing authority include:
- Cadet squadrons and corps – commanding officer
- Volunteer fire departments – fire chief or assistant fire chief
- K-12 schools – principal or vice principal
- College and university groups – varies depending on the group. Refer to Eligibility for College and University Groups to determine who should sign.
- Libraries – Provincial Library Board representative
- Church groups and parishes – church official (Minister/Priest/Sister)
- Scouts – Scouts Canada headquarters
- Girl Guides, Pathfinders, Brownies and Sparks – District Commissioner
- Royal Canadian Legion – must contain a Provincial Command Stamp
- Sports groups – read the Eligibility for Sports Groups Memo to determine who should apply for the licence
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Lottery Proceeds
Money raised through a charitable lottery may only be used toward programs and activities that help the charity meet its goals.
Proceeds are not approved for:
- upkeep or maintenance of service clubs;
- promotion of tourism or other activities that are economic in nature;
- municipal infrastructure or development;
- for lobbying purposes or to oppose changes in law or government policy;
- education purposes of members of groups other than K-12 and college and university groups;
- expenses of political parties;
- professional development for nurses, teachers and other professionals;
- membership conferences for service clubs;
- membership fees for organizations, their members or staff in professional or recreation associations;
- pay salaries of support staff; or
- operational expenses of the applicant organization.
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Submitting Your Financial Reports
The back of your lottery licence will indicate if you have to file a financial report after your event. If a report is needed it is due 60 days after the expiry of the licence. You are also responsible to pay a licensing fee along with the report. The method of calculating the fee is on the front on each financial report.
Each individual type of lottery has its own financial report:
- Bingos
- Breakopen
- Bingo – Breakopen
- Chase the Ace
- Games of Chance
- Monte Carlo
- Sports Betting Lotteries
- Ticket Lotteries
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Have a Complaint?
Charitable lotteries complaints should be made with the organization first. If the organization does not resolve your complaint, pleasecontact our office. To mail or fax your complaint, please download thecomplaint record form.
Contact Atlantic Lottery Corporation for complaints about 6/49, Super 7, scratch tickets, breakopen tickets that are sold in convenience stores and video lottery terminals, or VLTs.
Contact the Royal Newfoundland Constabularyor theRoyal Canadian Mounted Police for complaints about illegal lotteries.
For any other complaints, such as mail, email or a telephone call stating you have won a lottery you did not enter, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
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Charitable Gaming Statistics
- April 2021 – March 2022 (292 KB)
- April 2020 – March 2021 (133 KB)
- April 2019 – March 2020 (133 KB)
- April 2018 – March 2019 (130 KB)
- April 2017 – March 2018 (130 KB)
- April 2016 – March 2017 (130 KB)
- April 2015 – March 2016 (217 KB)
- April 2014 – March 2015 (221 KB)
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