If your planned fundraising activities include gaming or games of chance such as raffles, bingo, lucky envelopes or casino nights, your organisation will need to be ‘declared’ by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) under Chapter 8 of the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic).
You should apply for declaration at least 28 days before you plan to conduct gaming activities or games of chance. Once approved, the declaration will be valid for 10 years. Organisations that have been declared by the VCGLR are publicly listed.
- see the Community and charitable gaming page on the VCGLR website for information about how to become registered.
- see the Declared community and charitable organisations page on the VCGLR website to access the public register.
Depending on the activities you plan to conduct you may also need to apply for additional permits, and comply with specific regulations, and reporting or notification requirements.
Note: the additional permits will only be processed by the VCGLR after your organisation has been declared. Ensure you allow enough time for both applications when planning your activities.
Raffles
If the prize value of your raffle is over $5,000 you will need to apply for a minor gaming permit. You should submit your application for a minor gaming permit at least 21 days before your planned activity commences. The permit may be given for a period of up to 12 months.
Depending on the prize value, there are varying requirements for the number of tickets, how long you can sell tickets for, collecting purchaser information and record keeping.
- see the Raffle FAQs page on the VCGLR website.
If a raffle is being run for your organisation by someone else they may be required to obtain a commercial raffle licence.
- see the Commercial raffle organiser FAQs page on the VCGLR website.
Lucky envelopes
A minor gaming permit is required to sell lucky envelopes. You should submit your application for a minor gaming permit at least 21 days before your planned activity commences. Minor gaming permits for lucky envelopes are issued for up to two years.
- see the Lucky envelopes FAQs page on the VCGLR website.
Casino nights
Functions that raise money through the playing of casino-type games are classed as fundraising events by the VCGLR. Any organisation wanting to run a fundraising event must obtain a minor gaming permit. Permits are issued for a specific event only, and you should submit your application at least 21 days prior.
There are restrictions on the types of games that can be played, specific rules for play money, chips and tokens, and supervision of the event.
- see the Fundraising event FAQs page on the VCGLR website.
Bingo
To raise funds from bingo sessions your organisation will need to submit a ‘Notification of intention to conduct bingo sessions’ to the VCGLR at least seven days before the first bingo session.
- see the Bingo page on the VCGLR website.
- visit the Gambling forms page on the VCGLR website.
Your organisation may run bingo sessions or arrange for a licensed Bingo Centre Operator to run bingo games on your behalf. The VCGLR provides a pro-forma agreement for the contract with the Bingo Centre Operator which covers all legislative requirements.
- visit the Gambling forms page on the VCGLR website.
Under the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic) there are standard rules for bingo that need to be followed. Any variation from the approved versions of bingo requires approval from the VCGLR.
- see the Approved versions of bingo page on the VCGLR website.