Exploring the Variety of Charitable Gaming Licences in Ontario

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ByLucas Portela
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Charitable and religious organizations in Ontario have a wealth of options when it comes to fundraising through gaming. Regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and local municipalities, these formats range from small community events to province-wide draws. Here are the primary types of legal charitable gaming licences available in Ontario:

Bingo Events

Bingo remains a cornerstone of charitable fundraising, evolving into several distinct formats:

  • Regular & Special Bingo: A Regular Bingo features a prize board up to $5,500, while “Monster” Bingos offer significantly higher amounts.
  • Progressive Bingo: The prize rolls over and increases at each event until a limit is reached or the jackpot is won.
  • Super Jackpot: Played alongside regular bingo, this prize grows until a player completes a specific pattern within a set number of calls.
  • Media Bingo: Numbers are announced via television, radio, or newspapers. Crucially, these games cannot be played over the internet.

Raffles and “Catch the Ace”

Raffles involve selling tickets for a chance to win cash or merchandise. Common types include 50/50s, calendar draws, and elimination draws.

  • Catch the Ace: This popular progressive raffle combines a weekly draw with an escalating jackpot. The weekly winner receives a portion of sales and gets to pick a card from a 52-card deck. Finding the Ace of Spades wins the cumulative jackpot.

Social Gaming, Fairs, and Bazaars

For more casual community settings, specific licences focus on amusement and social interaction:

  • Social Gaming: Ideal for Legions and seniors’ homes, this covers games like euchre, cribbage, and bridge. Bets are capped at $2 per person, and total daily prizes cannot exceed $500.
  • Fair and Exhibition Gaming: Approved fairs can host blackjack, wheels of fortune, and merchandise bingos.
  • Bazaars: These one-day events allow a combination of activities: a raffle (up to $50,000 in prizes), a bingo (up to $5,500), and up to three wheels of fortune with a $2 maximum bet.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can my organization run a “Media Bingo” over the internet?

No. Under current Ontario regulations, Media Bingo must be conducted through traditional media like television, radio, or newspapers. Hosting these games over the internet is strictly prohibited for charitable licences.

How does the “Catch the Ace” progressive jackpot work?

Each week, a winner is drawn and receives 20% of the weekly sales. They then select an envelope from a deck; if it contains the Ace of Spades, they also win the progressive jackpot (30% of sales from all previous weeks).

What are the betting limits for a Social Gaming licence?

To keep the focus on social interaction, bets are limited to $2 per person. Additionally, the total cash prizes awarded throughout a single day cannot exceed $500.