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Charitable lottery licences in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Kingston licenses eligible charitable lotteries within municipal prize limits. A fundraising purpose alone is not enough: the organization and use of proceeds must qualify.
Key information
Kingston licenses eligible charitable lotteries within municipal prize limits. A fundraising purpose alone is not enough: the organization and use of proceeds must qualify.
On this page
Eligibility and responsibility
A lottery combines payment, chance and a prize. Applicants must demonstrate a charitable or religious mandate, have existed at least one year, have an Ontario business place and use proceeds to benefit Ontario residents.
The organization manages the event and must follow licence terms, financial reporting and the AGCO policy manual. Personal or informal fundraising should not be assumed eligible.
Municipal categories
The City lists bingo and media bingo prize boards up to $5,500, raffles with total prizes up to $50,000 and certain break-open tickets sold inside the municipality. Break-open sales cannot be combined with another licensed gaming event under this stated category.
The bazaar paragraph has an unclear raffle number printed as $50,00.00. Do not infer a bazaar limit from that typo; confirm with Licensing. The separate raffle limit above is clearly $50,000.
Apply and allow review time
Contact licensingapplications@cityofkingston.ca or 613-546-4291 extension 3150 for eligibility and the correct form. Submit the application and fee to Licensing at 1211 John Counter Boulevard.
The fee is three percent of total prize value. An eligible organization licensed by Kingston within two years can expect about ten business days. New organizations take about 25 days for qualification review.
Other fundraising
The page identifies auctions, bake sales, car washes, tours and some skill contests as examples not requiring a lottery licence, subject to their actual format. A donation-instead-of-ticket-price raffle is not a safe exemption: the page specifically warns against raffles by donation and sports pool raffles.
Quick reference
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Organization history | At least 1 year |
| Raffle municipal limit | Total prizes up to $50,000 |
| Bingo/media bingo | Prize board up to $5,500 |
| Licence fee | 3% of prize value |
| Review | About 10 business days for recent qualified groups; 25 days for new groups |
What to do next
- Confirm eligibility
Describe organization, beneficiaries and proposed game.
- Get the form
Ask Licensing for the correct category.
- Apply before sales
Allow qualification review and follow reporting terms.
10 useful questions
What three elements make a lottery?
Payment or consideration, chance and a prize.
Is any non-profit automatically eligible?
No. It must demonstrate the qualifying mandate and other criteria.
How long must the organization have existed?
At least one year.
What is the municipal raffle prize limit?
Total prizes up to $50,000.
What bingo limit is listed?
A prize board up to $5,500.
How is the licence fee calculated?
Three percent of the total prize value.
How long do new organizations take?
The page says about 25 days for qualification review.
What if we were licensed within two years?
A qualified organization can expect around ten business days.
Who supplies the application form?
Licensing at licensingapplications@cityofkingston.ca or 613-546-4291 extension 3150.
Can I avoid licensing by calling raffle tickets donations?
No. The City specifically warns against raffles by donation.
Official information and forms
This guide covers the City of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Other Kingston communities and the surrounding counties have separate services. Fees and active service notices can change. Use the linked official page for the application or latest notice.