Lottery

Lottery

Lottery a centuries-old concept, is an arrangement for distributing prizes by lot, chance or mixed chance and skill. Under the Criminal Code (s189) it is an indictable offence to conduct any of a number of activities related to "any proposal, scheme or plan for advancing, lending, giving, selling or in any way disposing of any property, by lots, cards, tickets, or any mode of chance whatever." A 1969 amendment (rewritten 1985) provides for exceptions. Section 190(1) of the code now permits provincial governments to conduct and manage lottery schemes; and permits provinces to license charitable or religious organizations, agricultural fairs and exhibitions, and persons at public places of amusement to conduct and manage lottery schemes.

Federal Government

Under s10 of the Olympic (1976) Act, passed in 1973, the Organizing Committee of the 1976 Olympic Games, a Québec corporation, was authorized to run a lottery scheme to raise money for the 1976 Olympic Games in Montréal and was allowed to sell tickets in any province where the government of that province agreed, provided that the proceeds were used to provide financial assistance for the Olympics and for the development of amateur sport in the participating provinces. In the 9 draws between 1973 and 1976, $230 million was raised for the Olympics, $25 million for the provinces and $190 million was awarded in prizes.

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