Applications, Licences and Permits

• Bingo Licence Application Form
• Break Open Ticket Licence Application Form 
• Application to Manage and Conduct a Raffle Lottery
• Application to Manage and Conduct a Blanket Raffle Lottery
• Application to Manage and Conduct a Bingo Lottery
• Lottery Licence Application Form for New Applicants and/or Periodic File Update Requirements

Canada's Criminal Code only permits charitable and religious organizations to conduct lottery schemes to raise funds pursuant to an issued lottery licence. Organizations must have a demonstrated charitable or religious mandate to qualify.

The courts have determined that the term "charitable" refers to organizations which provide programs for: 

• the relief of poverty;
• the advancement of education;
• the advancement of religion; and
• other charitable purposes beneficial to the community.

The following are prerequisites to be considered eligible for a lottery licence:

• Organizations must have been in existence for at least one(1) year;
• Organizations must have a place of business in Ontario;
• Organizations' primary purpose must be to provide charitable services in Ontario; and
• Organization must use the proceeds of any lottery scheme for objects or purposes which benefit Ontario residents.

The primary purposes of an organization are determined by considering:

• the mandate of the organization as set out in its incorporation documents or documents stating the organization's objectives;
• the objectives of the organization as described in its application for licence; and
• the services which have actually been provided by the organization to the community.

Under Order-in-Council 2688-93, municipalities may issue licences to conduct the following lottery schemes:

• Bingo events with prize boards up to $5,000;
• Media bingo events;
• Raffle lotteries for total prizes up to $50,000;
• All break open ticket lotteries not licensed by the provincial office; and
• Bazaars (Bingo maximum $500; Raffle maximum $500; maximum 3 wheels of fortune). 

• Determine what type of lottery scheme your organization intends to conduct.
• Obtain the appropriate application form from the Greater Napanee Municipal Administration Centre (99-A Advance Ave) or online or the province.
• Complete the form according to the instructions on the form and the policies provided by the Town or as set out in the guide for that lottery event and submit it along with the applicable licence fee to the Town.

First time applicants should, in addition to the materials required with the application as identified in the lottery licensing policies, provide the following information or documents:

• A copy of its articles of incorporation or constitution and/or by-laws
• A copy of its budget or financial statements for the preceding and coming years
• Any other information that will assist in determining the charitable nature of the objects and purposes. This could include an annual report, charitable number for income-tax purposes, the fact that it meets the reporting requirements of the Charities Accounting Act.
• The proposed use of proceeds must be consistent with the primary objects and purposes of the organization which must be of a charitable nature consistent with at least one of the four classifications of charitable purposes

The types of organizations which cannot be considered charitable include:

• social clubs
• professional associations, unions, employee groups
• elected representative groups including municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments
• government ministries, agents or bodies
• political lobby groups
• political parties
• adult hobby groups
• private sports clubs (e.g. golf/curling)
• adult sports teams 

• Charitable Gaming Events Conducted and Managed in Pooling Bingo Halls Terms and Conditions
• Regular and Special Bingo Licence Terms and Conditions
• Break Open Ticket Licence Terms and Conditions
• Raffle Licence Terms and Conditions

Both parties must provide identification.

Examples of accepted ID include the following:

• a valid passport; 
• an original birth certificate and any change of name certificates; 
• a record of immigrant landing;
• a Canadian Citizenship card; 
• a permanent resident card

Applicants must have one piece of government-issued photo ID, for example:

• a valid driver's licence
• Ontario photo ID card

There are no requirements regarding residency, pre-marital blood tests or medical certificates.

 If the divorce was dissolved or annulled in Canada:

• the original or court certified copy (from the same court in which the divorce or annulment was granted), of the Final Decree or Certificate of Divorce. 
• the Divorce Order is not acceptable.

If the divorce was granted outside Canada, you will need to provide certain documents to prove that you are no longer married. The government needs to validate these documents. This process can take up to 4 weeks.

You will need to send the following documents to the Office of the Registrar General:

• Marriage Licence Application Form - completed and signed
• Statement of Sole Responsibility - for each divorce (signed by both people who are planning to get married and a witness)
• Legal Opinion Letter from an Ontario lawyer, addressed to both people who plan to get married, giving reasons why the divorce or annulment should be recognized in Ontario
• Divorce Decree or Annulment, an original or court-certified copy in English or French. If the decree is in another language, you will need to include a translated copy and an affidavit sworn by a certified translator

Note: Completed Foreign Divorce Authorizations are sent to applicants by courier.  It is important that your full mailing address including suite/unit/apartment and buzzer number is included on the marriage licence application form, or the courier package cannot be delivered and returned to the Office of the Registrar General.

Please mail these documents directly to:

Office of the Registrar General
Marriage Office
P.O. Box 4600
189 Red River Road
Thunder Bay ON  P7B 6L8

You can also contact the Office of the Registrar General to have a sample legal opinion letter faxed to your lawyer.

For more information: call 1-800-461-2156 (toll-free).