Christmas raffle and lottery in Québec: the licence

A Christmas raffle for your organization in Québec: RACJ class A licence, $20,000 ceiling, 30-day deadline, drawing by hand and donation receipts.

In short In Québec, a Christmas raffle generally needs a provincial licence (section 207 of the Criminal Code). Class A is meant for revenues of $20,000 a year at most, is requested at least 30 days before sales begin and rules out electronic winner selection. For everything else, ask the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux.

This article describes the rules in Québec, Canada.

Why does a Christmas raffle need a licence?

Section 207 of the Criminal Code allows a charitable or religious organization to run a lottery, provided the proceeds go to a charitable or religious purpose and the province issues a licence. The federal law makes no exemption for small groups.

A Christmas draw is therefore prepared like a full project, and the licence is the first step. If you are still unsure about the format, start with our Christmas fundraising ideas for an organization in Canada.

Who issues the licence in Québec?

The Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ), the Québec government body for alcohol, racing and gaming. It issues a class A lottery system licence to charitable or religious organizations based in Québec.

That licence covers four types of systems: the draw, the instant lottery, the charity casino and the wheel of fortune. For a Christmas action, think first of the draw, with numbered tickets and prizes from businesses in your neighbourhood.

What are the limits of class A?

The total annual revenue of all the systems run under your class A licence must not exceed $20,000. The licence is valid for 1 year. For a small organization that ceiling may be enough, but work it out before you set the ticket price.

Here are the other conditions the RACJ confirms for this class:

  • apply for the licence at least 30 days before ticket sales or the event begin;
  • keep your records for 2 years;
  • spend the profits in the year after the licence ends;
  • use no electronic system to generate tickets, choose winners or award prizes.

Can you sell tickets online?

The RACJ page on class A says that a transactional website used only to sell tickets is allowed. Choosing the winners, however, cannot go through an electronic draw.

In practice, draw the tickets by hand, in front of witnesses, for example at your year-end meeting. Before launching online sales, describe your plan to the RACJ in writing and keep its answer, so that you can show later what was agreed.

What about other types of draws?

On 30 March 2022, the Québec government announced measures to modernize charitable gaming, including electronic draws, the chase the ace game and a simplified 50/50 draw. We could not confirm the current conditions for these formats.

If one of them appeals to you, ask the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux which licence you need, what the ceilings are and which deadlines apply. The same goes for licences of a class other than class A.

Is a raffle ticket a donation?

No. According to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), buying a lottery ticket is not a gift, and no official donation receipt can cover the price of the ticket. So never present a raffle as a deductible donation, whether in a poster, an email or a post.

Keep the two apart. The ticket is a purchase with a chance to win, while a gift is a voluntary gesture that can entitle the donor to a receipt if you are a registered charity. To understand it all, read our guide to Christmas donation receipts in Canada.

How do you plan a raffle without stress?

Start from the draw date and work backwards. The licence is the step that takes time, so begin with it.

  1. 10 weeks before: contact the RACJ, confirm that class A suits you and estimate your revenue.
  2. 8 weeks before: file the application, at least 30 days before sales.
  3. 6 weeks before: secure prizes from 5 to 10 businesses and print the numbered tickets.
  4. 4 weeks before: open sales only once the licence is in hand.
  5. After the draw: record the results and keep your records for 2 years.

Have a neutral person supervise the draw, for example a board member, so that nobody can doubt it was fair. For the full schedule of your campaign, follow our guide to organizing a Christmas fundraiser in Canada.

How to do it with WeGlow.world

A raffle sells tickets, but your supporters will also simply want to give. If your organization is on WeGlow.world, the donation page guides the donor in three steps, from the amount to their details and then the summary, works on mobile and offers both one-time and monthly gifts. Keep it clearly separate from the ticket sales.

Our four Christmas experiences remain concepts until the official launch. In the Glow Room, a 3D living room with a Christmas tree, every gift becomes a decoration. On the Card Wall, every card is a stamp on an envelope hung from a string. Your supporters can also start their own fundraising page, and you can write a thank you text. Start for free with an account or write to us with any question.

Frequently asked questions

Here are our short answers to the questions organizations ask most often about Christmas raffles.

Do you need a licence for a small Christmas raffle?

Section 207 of the Criminal Code provides for a provincial licence for a lottery, with no federal exemption for small groups. If you believe your raffle is an exception, put the question to the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux before you sell a single ticket.

How far in advance must you apply?

For class A, at least 30 days before ticket sales or the event begin. Allow 8 weeks instead if you want room to answer the Régie's questions.

Can you draw the winners with a software tool?

Not with class A. The RACJ states that no electronic system may be used to generate tickets, choose winners or award prizes. Draw by hand, in front of witnesses.

Can you issue a receipt for a ticket?

No. According to the CRA, buying a lottery ticket is not a gift. Gifts your supporters make separately can entitle them to a receipt if you are a registered charity.

What happens if we exceed $20,000?

The ceiling of $20,000 a year applies to all your revenue under the class A licence. If you expect to exceed it, ask the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux which other licence applies, because we could not confirm it.

Sources

Checked on 9 October 2026:

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