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What is a standard lottery?

When your organisation sells lottery tickets to the public for an extended period, it is called a standard lottery.

Eligibility for a permit

• An applicant organisation must be an acceptable body under section 51 of the Gaming and Wagering Commission Act 1987;
• Organisations must provide evidence they are a bonafide group, this can be established with the following documentation:
  • Certified constitution; and/or
  • Rules of association
• Organisations must nominate a permit holder on their behalf who:
  • is over 18 years of age;
  • is concerned in the administration of and makes the application on behalf of the organisation; and
  • will be responsible for the conduct of gaming
• Organisations must use the funds raised from the lottery for purposes acceptable in terms of the requirements of the Act. The lottery cannot be conducted for private gain or any commercial undertaking;
• If funds raised will be donated to a charity or other community organisation, that entity will also need to confirm that the use of funds will not be used for private gain or commercial benefit;
• There is no limit to the number of permits issued to an organisation in a year, nor the amount of money each organisation can raise; and
• Permits can run for up to 3 months, if an extension is required you need to apply in writing at least 7 days before the closing date.

Tickets and sales

• All tickets must be sold at the same price as authorised by the permit;
• No person under the age of 12 years is permitted to sell or purchase lottery tickets;
• In addition, when liquor is offered as a prize, persons under 18 years of age are prohibited from selling or purchasing tickets;
• House to house sales may be made during the hours of 9am and 6pm;
• Records must be kept for 12 months;
• All prizes must be delivered to winners within 30 days; and
• No approval will be given to increase the number of tickets for sale once ticket sales have commenced.

Each ticket must have the following information:

• ticket number;
• price of ticket;
• name and contact number of permit holder;
• name of organisation on behalf of which the lottery is conducted;
• permit number;
• description and value of prizes;
• date of drawing; and
• name and date of issue of the publication in which the results are to appear.

Do I need a permit?

Instances where a permit is not required

Section 103 and 108

Scenario 1

1.1    Tickets are sold to persons who work or reside on the same premises, or to members or guests of a member of a body of persons (i.e. a club);

1.2    The price of every ticket is the same;

1.3    The sale of tickets and the declaration of prizes takes place within 8 days; and

1.4    The maximum retail value of each prize does not exceed $1000.

Scenario 2

2.1    The price of every ticket is the same;

2.2    The lottery is conducted on the same day and on the same premises where tickets are sold; and

2.3    The total retail value of the prizes does not exceed $2000.

Scenario 3

The conduct of minor fund raising activities which constitute gaming, betting or a lottery, is lawful without a permit provided that the following conditions are met.

• The lottery is not conducted for private gain or for any commercial undertaking;
• The total retail value of the prizes does not exceed $200; and
• The activity is being conducted as a means of raising funds for community, cultural, ethnic or charitable purposes.

 The conduct of the following activities is permitted:

• guessing competitions;
• number based games;
• raffles;
• chocolate wheels; or
• any other minor fund raising activity, such as a mouse race.

Use of funds

Funds raised by a standard lottery must be used for the active promotion, support or conduct of: sporting; social; political; literary; artistic; scientific; benevolent; charitable; or other like activity.

Funds must not be for the purpose of private gain or any commercial undertaking.

Examples of acceptable/unacceptable use of funds

Acceptable:

• donation to a charity
• sporting trip for team competing — paying for travel and accommodation
• purchase of bus for club
• facility hire costs for clubs eg clubrooms, ovals for training/games etc.

Unacceptable:

• donation to an individual
• holiday trip by a sports team
• funding a reduction in individuals club membership fees.

Gaming applications

The department has forms and application kits relevant to gaming.

A permit may be issued to an organisation on the proviso that the purpose of raising funds is not for private gain or commercial undertaking.

Gaming applications