Apply for a raffle licence

Download the raffle licence application form.

Complete all sections of the application form. Do not leave a section blank. You may enter “not applicable” when it’s relevant. We may return incomplete applications.

Tips

Choose raffle type

You'll need to identify on the application which type of raffle licence you're applying for.

Regular ticket raffle

A regular raffle ticket is the most common type of raffle licence. People who buy tickets give their contact information on the ticket stub. The seller then keeps the ticket stubs. Prize winners are determined by drawing ticket stubs from a container.

Single-day raffle

A single-day raffle is also known as a 50/50 draw or roll-ticket draw. Ticket sales and draws take place within a 7-hour period on a single day at a single location. Tickets come in 2 portions, both with the same number. The seller gives 1 portion to the buyer, and then keeps the other for the prize draw.

Designated bank account

Provide information for a bank account that your organization will only use for licensed lotteries.

Use of proceeds

In this section of the application, provide details on what you'll use your raffle proceeds or profits for.

• Be as specific as possible.
• Only include permitted uses. You can only use raffle proceeds to support your organization’s charitable purpose.
• The registrar must approve using proceeds for travel before the travel takes place.  If you will use some proceeds for travel, fill out and submit the charitable gaming request for travel form with your application.

Note: Your organization can carry over unspent proceeds in your designated bank account. You can do this for up to 1 year from the expiry date of the lottery licence.

If you're not able to spend the proceeds within the year, you must submit a proceeds carryover application.

Identifying your prizes

On your application, you must identify:

• all the prizes you'll award to raffle winners;
• the estimated retail value of prizes; and
• what you're paying for the prizes.

The retail value and what you pay for a prize may be different if you're receiving a discount or someone has donated a prize.

As a condition of your licence, you must award all raffle prizes. You must do this even if the money raised from the raffle cannot pay for the prizes.

Ticket information

You must identify on the application your raffle ticket details. These details include:

• Date(s) of draw
• Location(s) of draw
• Number of tickets printed
• Price of ticket
• Maximum total value of tickets
• Single day raffle 7-hour period of sales (if applicable)
• Name of ticket printer

You will also need to provide a sample ticket with your application.

All applications

All applicants must provide the following documents with their complete application package.

Copy of motion approving your application

• Your board of directors must pass a motion approving your application.
• Provide a copy of the meeting minutes with your application.

Copy of a sample ticket

• Provide a mock-up of your ticket with your application package.
• This sample ticket template can serve as a guide. It identifies the essential information your ticket must contain.
• All raffle tickets must be commercially printed, except single-day raffle tickets. You may use roll tickets for a single-day (50/50) raffle licence.

Your financial control plan

• You will need to write down how you will manage ticket sales. This plan should include:
  • How you will track distribution and sale of tickets to prevent lost or stolen tickets, or money.
  • How you will ensure that only sold tickets are included in the draw.
• This plan does not have to be more than a few lines long.
• You can use our sample ticket inventory control worksheet as part of your financial control plan.

Copy of your raffle rules

• You will need to provide a brief description of how you will run your raffle.
  • You must follow the rules outlined in how to hold a raffle.
  • You must indicate when and where your organization will sell tickets.
  • You must indicate when and where you will hold the draw.

Request for travel itinerary form

Download the request for travel form.

Complete this form if you intend to use any proceeds for travel.

For raffles where retail value of all prizes is more than $5,000

If your raffle’s total prizes will have a retail value of more than $5,000, provide the following.

Prize guarantee form

A person or a financial institution must guarantee that all raffle prizes will be available.

• Download either:
  • the prize guarantee by individual form; or
  • the prize guarantee by financial institution form.
• Have the person or financial institution complete the applicable form and submit this with your licence application.
• You must award the most valuable prize 1st, followed by the next most valuable prize, and so on.
• You must pay out all prizes you advertise, even if your raffle does not make enough money to cover prize costs.
• Whoever provides a prize guarantee commits to making sure all prizes will be paid. This could mean using their own funds to do so.

Note: A raffle, where prizes are a portion of the day’s sales, such as a 50/50, does not require a prize guarantee.

Supporting documentation showing cost of prizes versus retail value of prize

You need to provide documentation confirming the retail value of your prizes and, if different, the cost to the organization. This can be:

• receipts showing what you paid for the prizes; or
• a letter from the prize seller or donor confirming the retail value and the cost to your organization

For raffle applications with ticket price of $50 or more, or a total ticket value of $25,000 or more

Marketing plan

Provide a marketing plan for your raffle if:

• individual tickets will cost more than $50; or
• you estimate your total tickets sales will be more than $25,000.

This document should outline how you plan to advertise and promote your raffle.

Fees

You will need to submit your licence fee with your application. We determine the fee for a raffle based on the planned greatest value of ticket sales.

How to pay

You can pay by:

• cheque;
• credit card;
• cash; or
• debit.

Cheque

• Complete the payment information form.
• Provide a cheque in the appropriate amount made out to Government of Yukon.
• After we issue your licence, we'll cash your cheque.

Credit card

• Complete the payment information form.
• If you submit your application in person, by courier or mail, you may include your credit card info on your payment information form.
• If you submit your application by email or fax, do not include your credit card info on your form. We'll contact you for your credit card info.
• After we issue your licence, we'll take payment.

Cash or debit

• You can only pay by cash or debit if you can pay in person at our office in Whitehorse.
• Complete the payment information form.
• We'll hold your licence at our office after we issue it.
• We'll take payment by cash or debit when you pick up your licence.

What to include

Your application package must include:

• the completed application form;
• all supporting documents;
• your payment information form;
• your fees, if paying by cheque.

Submit your application package:

• In person or by courier at 307 Black Street, Whitehorse Y1A 2N1. Our office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Email: charitablegaming@yukon.ca
• Mail:
  Government of Yukon
  Professional Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (C-5)
  Box 2703
  Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6

Processing time

It typically takes 10 business days to approve a raffle licence. Once we reach our decision we'll contact you by phone or email.

If approved, your licence will contain a full description of terms and conditions.

Before you go ahead with your raffle, you should review our information on how to hold a raffle. Doing so, will help ensure your lottery is legal.