Charitable Licensing in BC
How to Apply For and Manage
a Community Gaming Licence
Victoria Loyer – Licensing Supervisor
Hailey Galego – Licensing Analyst
2017 BC/Yukon Command Convention
Richmond, BC
June 2nd, 2017
Objectives for Today
By the end of the presentation, you will know more about:
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The different classes of licenses
Which expenses are eligible when reporting
How gaming funds can be disbursed
What percentages can be used towards admin fees
The benefits of applying online
Status of Chase the Ace
How to get the assistance you need
Our end goal is to have everyone understand our processes
so we can work together to avoid confusion and delays.
Who makes up our
Licensing Team?
Current Staffing:
• 4 Licensing Analysts – primarily review and process
Class A & C applications
• 8 Licensing Agents – primarily review and process Class
B & D applications
• Licensing Supervisor
• Director
Making It Work
Organizations or groups may apply for licensing when their scheme
or group is not eligible or does not fit within our current guidelines.
Occasionally organizations that do not meet requirements for
eligibility may require a change to their structure or bylaws in
order to establish eligibility for licensing.
Licensing team meets 3 times weekly to discuss and debate possible
outcomes and solutions of complex applications and events as they
arise.
What requires a licence?
Generally, for an activity to be considered gaming the
following three elements must be present:
• “Consideration” – usually means players must pay or
exchange something of value to be eligible to participate
• “Prize” – includes money or anything of value
• “Chance” meaning the outcome is not pre-determined or
determined solely by skill
Silent auctions do not require a licence.
Class “A” Licenses
Class A licenses fall under one of three categories:
• Minor (up to $100,000)
• Major (up to $250,000)
• Registered (more than $250,000)
Under a Class A gaming event licence, eligible groups and organizations are
limited to:
• No limit in gross revenue in a 12 month period;
• No limit on gross revenue per licence;
• Individual prize values do not have a limit, but prize security must be
provided for any prize with a fair market value of $10,000 or over; and
• No limit on price per ticket.
Completed applications must be received at a minimum of 10 weeks prior to
the event start date.
Class “B” Licenses
Under a Class B gaming event licence, eligible groups and
organizations are limited to:
• No limit in gross revenue in a 12 month period;
• Up to $20,000 gross revenue per licence;
• Individual prize values do not have a limit, but prize
security must be provided for any prize with a fair
market value of $10,000 or over; and
• No limit on price per ticket.
Currently, we are requesting 10 business days processing
time for a completed application.
Class “C” Licenses
Class C licenses are available to organizations that are
part of the Registered Provincial Fairs only.
Class “D” Licenses
Under a Class D gaming event licence, eligible groups and
organizations are limited to:
• Raising up to $10,000 in gross revenue in a calendar
year;
• Up to $5,000 gross revenue per licence;
• Individual prize values not exceeding $500; and
• A $2 maximum charge for each chance to win a prize.
Applications must be submitted online.
Currently, we are requesting 10 business days processing
time for a completed application.
Applying Online and
the Benefits
Any class of application may be submitted online at:
https://www.gaming.gov.bc.ca/gaming/common/Welcome.do?start=true
The benefits of applying online:
• Allows for a quicker and smoother process
• The online application has additional fields, where a paper application misses
out on required information
• The online application will not let you move forward unless all the required
fields have been completed
• Support documents can be attached to the online application
• Once you have submitted your application online, it is received by the Branch
immediately
• Allows agents and analysts to assess the application sooner and allows more
time to request additional documents if required
Disbursement of Funds
A Legion would be considered a Community Service Organization or a Service Club.
Service clubs:
• Are responsible for monitoring how gaming proceeds are disbursed by the donation
recipient and required to report to the branch any instance where funds were used
inappropriately;
• Must ensure a Major Capital Project is approved by the branch before gaming
proceeds are donated towards the project.
• May donate to an organization with which they are associated, as long as the recipient
organization meets all eligibility criteria
• May use gaming proceeds for their own programs where the branch has provided
written approval for the program
• Groups receiving donations must be considered an eligible organization
Note: It is best to contact the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, on a caseby-case basis, if you are unsure if your use of proceeds are eligible.
Reporting
Gaming Event Revenue Reports (GERR):
• Gaming Event Revenue Report is a report that is required to be completed for each licence
approved to your organization.
• It is mandatory that you complete the GERR within 90 days of the expiry of each licence.
• This form can be located on our website at:
http://www.gaming.gov.bc.ca/licences/docs/form-event-revenue-rpt.pdf
Gaming Account Summary Reports (GASR):
• The Gaming Account Summary Report is a report of the activity in your Gaming bank
account within an organizations fiscal period.
• It is mandatory that you complete the GASR within 90 days of the expiry of your fiscal
year end.
• This form can be located on our website at: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/sportsrecreation-arts-and-culture/gambling/gambling-in-bc/form-acct-summary-rpt.pdf
These reports can be submitted by regular mail, facsimile: 250-356-8149 or by email to
[email protected]
Reporting Expenses
• Your group or organization may pay expenses directly related to the conduct
and management of a licensed gaming event.
• Expenses cannot exceed 25% of the actual gross revenue.
• Prize costs are deducted from gross revenue, but are not considered an event
expense.
• Examples of permitted expenses are advertising, licence fee, printing, and
volunteer out-of-pocket expenses related to the event.
• Receipts must be kept for each expense as part of your gaming event records.
• Expenses for an event may be prorated.
Understanding
Administrative Fees
Service Clubs:
• May retain up to 10% of the net proceeds from their
licensed gaming activities.
• Where the net licensed gaming proceeds are 25% or
more of gross revenue, the service organization may
retain 15% of the net proceeds; and
• Cannot receive gaming proceeds from, or donate gaming
proceeds to, another service club or community
fundraising group.
Chase the Ace
The Standard Procedures and Guidelines are
currently being reviewed for Chase the Ace and are
awaiting approval from the ADM in order to move
forward with a pilot in the fall.
Once executive approval on the guidelines has been
obtained information will be shared with
organizations.
Top Reasons for
Delays or Denial
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Applying for the wrong “raffle
type” (i.e. 50/50, regular raffle, one
day regular series)
The use of proceeds not clearly
explained or not eligible
Applied for the wrong class of
licence
Not compliant with submitting
their Gaming Event Revenue
Reports or Gaming Account
Summary Reports
Applying under incorrect
organization profile (multiple
profiles)
6.
7.
8.
9.
Missing information (common with
paper applications)
Restricted prizes (alcohol, live
animals, restricted/prohibited
weapons)
Paper applications, slow down the
process as we now have to data
enter the information into the
system
Supporting documents (i.e.
Community Fundraising Group
letters, prize security, eligibility
documentation)
How to Avoid a Delay
1. Review the guidelines for the specific licence,
before applying.
2. Make certain the contact information provided is
correct, providing daytime telephone numbers.
3. Submit the application as soon as possible, prizes
must be in place at the time of applying.
4. Submit the required reports within the 90 day
period.
5. If you are uncertain about anything, contact us.
6. Complete your application in full, correctly.
Getting the
Assistance You Need
From GPEB – Licensing
BC Association of Charitable Gaming
• Will provide information on setting
• Our website – including online
application resources, application
up a non-profit organization
forms, report examples, licensing
guidelines, and etc.
• Can assist with applying for licenses
• http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/conten
(or grants)
t/sports-culture/gamblingfundraising/gambling-licencefundraising/documents-forms
• Assists with completing Gaming
Event Revenue Reports and Gaming
• By telephone: (250) 387-5311 or
Account Summary Reports
• Toll free at: 1 (800) 663-7867
• Offers workshops online and in person
• Email: [email protected]
• www.bcacg.com
Any questions?
Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch Website: www.gaming.bc.ca