Gambling event licence fundraising
Last updated on November 20, 2025
Gambling event licences allow eligible organizations to fundraise by holding a single gambling event or a series of events. Gambling events include raffles, bingos, poker, social occasion casinos, and wheels of fortune. Find out about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
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About licensed charitable gambling
A community group or organization may be eligible to receive a licence to hold a gambling event that earns revenue to benefit charitable or religious programs and services within B.C.
A licence must be applied for in advance of the proposed gambling event. Licensees are responsible for following the Licensed Charitable Gaming Rules (PDF) related to the gambling event and for using the proceeds to support the eligible programs as approved on the licence.
For all information related to eligibility, application submission, classes of licenses, event types and the management and conduct of an event refer to the Licensed Charitable Gaming Rules (PDF).
Types of licences
A licensee must have a separate licence for each type of gambling event it conducts (50/50, Regular Raffle, Bingo, etc.). Before applying for a gaming event licence, an applicant must review the event procedures within the Licensed Charitable Gaming Rules (PDF) to become familiar with the rules that must be followed.
A licence may be issued for a period of up to 12 months for a series of similar gaming events.
Expand each class below to see more information, including event types, restrictions, processing fees, and processing times.
Class A: Gambling events that project more than $20,000 in gross revenue
Eligible gambling events:
- Ticket Raffle
- Independent Bingo
- Wheel of Fortune
- Social Occasion Casino
Restrictions:
- No limit in gross revenue in a calendar year
- No limit in gross revenue per licence
- No limit on individual prize values
- No limit on price per ticket
Processing fee:
- $50
Processing time:
- Complete applications require up to 10 weeks processing time
*An eligibility review is required for all first-time applicants on Class A and B applications who wish to raise funds for their own purposes. Organizations may be required to be reassessed every five years or sooner at the discretion of GPEB.
Class B: Gambling events that project $20,000 or less in gross revenue
Eligible gambling events:
- Ticket Raffle
- Independent Bingo
- Wheel of Fortune
- Social Occasion Casino
- Poker
Restrictions:
- No limit in gross revenue in a calendar year
- An allowed maximum of up to $20,000 in gross revenue per licence
- No limit on individual prize values
- No limit on price per ticket
Processing fee:
- $25
Processing time:
- Complete applications require up to 10 business days processing time
*An eligibility review is required for all first-time applicants on Class A and B applications who wish to raise funds for their own purposes. Organizations may be required to be reassessed every five years or sooner at the discretion of GPEB.
Class C: Gambling events held as part of Registered Provincial Fairs and Exhibitions only
Eligible gambling events:
- Ticket Raffle
- Independent Bingo
- Wheel of Fortune
- Limited Casino
Restrictions:
- No limit in gross revenue in a calendar year
- No limit in gross revenue per licence
- No limit on individual prize values
- No limit on price per ticket
Processing fee:
- $150
Processing time:
- Complete applications require up to 10 weeks processing time
Class D: Gambling events that project $5,000 or less in gross revenue
Eligible gambling events:
- Ticket Raffle
- Independent Bingo
Restrictions:
- A maximum gross revenue of up to $20,000 in a calendar year
- A maximum gross revenue of up to $5,000 per licence
- Individual prize values must not exceed $500 (at fair market value)
- Purchased raffle prizes cannot exceed 50% of the projected gross revenue
- A maximum $2 charge per individual ticket
Processing fee:
- $10
Processing time:
- Complete applications require up to 10 business days processing time
*An eligibility review is not required for a Class D licence.
How to apply
Before you apply, make sure you check the processing times for your licence type. If we request additional information, the application is considered incomplete until all information is received. This may impact processing time.
Service BC
A Service BC office may also assist with the application process in person.
Guides, documents and forms related to licensed charitable gambling events are available on the Documents and forms page.
Contact information
To check the status of an application, visit Application status reports. If you're calling toll-free, ask for a transfer to the Victoria office listed below.
250-387-5311
1-800-663-7867
250-356-8149