AGCO

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, which regulates liquor licences, Special Occasion Permits and lottery licensing.

How it works in practice

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario touches events in two ways: alcohol and lotteries. Planners deal with it most often through the Special Occasion Permit, but anyone running a charity gala will also meet it through raffles and 50/50 draws.

On the alcohol side, the AGCO issues liquor licences to venues and SOPs to events in unlicensed spaces, and it sets the rules both operate under: service hours from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Smart Serve certification for anyone serving, and liquor bought from approved sources for permitted events.

On the gaming side, raffles in Ontario need a lottery licence and are open only to charitable and religious organizations. Who issues it depends on prize value. Raffles and 50/50 draws under $50,000 in prizes are licensed by the municipality; over $50,000, by the AGCO. Live and silent auctions are not lotteries and need no lottery licence.

In Ontario and the GTA

Questions to ask

• Is the venue licensed, and does its licence cover every room and outdoor area we plan to use?
• Is the client a registered charity or religious organization eligible for a lottery licence?
• What is the total prize value of the raffle, and therefore who licenses it?
• Who is named on the permit, and will that person be on site?

For the Harbour Gala, the hotel licence covers the bar, so there is no SOP. The paddle raise is not a lottery. A 50/50 draw added by the foundation would need a municipal licence in advance.