Consultation: Proposed Changes to the Charitable Gaming Regulatory Framework - Municipal Licensing Thresholds and Bingo Revenue Model
Introduction
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is responsible for the regulation of charitable lotteries; this includes the administration of the framework for charitable raffle and bingo events.
AGCO’s Strategic Plan identifies goals to foster industry sustainability and innovation and reduce the risk of harm across all regulated sectors. These goals are at the core of our regulatory modernization initiatives in the charitable gaming sector.
Purpose of this Consultation
The purpose of this engagement is to invite feedback from municipalities, charities, bingo hall operators and other impacted groups on the following three proposed changes to the charitable gaming regulatory framework:
Increase to the maximum prize board for municipally issued bingo licenses from $5,500 to $10,000.
Increase to the maximum prize board for municipally issued raffle licenses from $50,000 to $100,000.
Adjustment to the Bingo Revenue Model from 55/45 (55% to Operators and 45% to charities) to 60/40 (60% to Operators and 40% to charities).
The AGCO will review and consider all submissions as part of ongoing work to ensure charitable gaming in Ontario is conducted with honesty, integrity and in the public interest.
Why is AGCO considering these changes?
Maximum Municipal Prize Board Changes:
The current municipal prize board thresholds were established over 20 years ago and have not been adjusted since. As the charitable gaming sector evolves, AGCO is exploring whether the current thresholds remain appropriate.
Bingo Revenue Model Changes:
AGCO has received stakeholder feedback requesting that the current revenue-sharing model be reviewed in light of changes in operating costs and sector conditions.
Regulatory Context
Based on the authority conferred by the Criminal Code, specifically s.207(1)(b), the Government of Ontario has passed an Order- in-Council 208/2024, delegating its authority to license charitable gaming events to:
the AGCO Registrar, and
municipal councils.
The AGCO Registrar has the authority to license all types of approved charitable gaming events. Municipal councils may license certain types of approved charitable gaming events, including paper-based raffles with prize boards of up to $50,000 and bingo events with prize boards of up to $5,500.
Key Facts: Municipal Licensing
Municipal councils have the authority to issue licences for most charitable gaming events conducted in their communities, including:
bingo events (including media bingo) with prize boards of up to $5,500
non-electronic raffles with prizes of up to $50,000
break open ticket events that are not conducted in conjunction with another licensed gaming event, and where the tickets are sold within the municipality
bazaar gaming events
A municipal council may develop additional criteria, through bylaws and policies, for making licensing decisions and administering lottery licensing in their municipality, if it does not contravene Registrar policy. For example, AGCO has set the maximum licensing fee that may be charged for the issuance of a raffle license at 3% of the prize board. Municipalities have authority to set raffle fees up to this maximum. AGCO has set its raffle licensing fee at 1% of the prize board.
Key Facts: Bingo Revenue Model (BRM)
The AGCO Registrar’s licensing framework for charitable gaming events in pooling bingo halls is also known as the Bingo Revenue Model (BRM).
In 2007, the AGCO established the current Bingo Revenue Model (BRM), which split the revenue from BRM Halls as follows: 55% to Bingo Hall Operators and 45% to partner charities.
The current 55/45 revenue split was established to balance the protection of charitable revenue with Bingo Hall Operators’ ability to run a profitable business.
How to Provide Input
Please review the information above and submit your survey responses in the survey below.
The survey submission deadline is August 21, 2026.
Please contact us at connect@agco.ca if you need support with using the engagement portal or submitting feedback.