Instant lotteries use an instant scratch or ‘break-open’ tickets where the number, letter or symbol is hidden. You must have a licence before you can advertise or begin an instant lottery.
At least 20% of the gross proceeds of an instant lottery, as well as all net proceeds, must be used for an approved purpose.
Unincorporated organisations applying for a licence for the first time need to include:
- a copy of the organisation's constitution
- names and addresses of management committee members
- the number of financial members.
Fee: $10.40
What happens next
Consumer and Business Services (CBS) will contact you when your licence is approved.
An application can be refused if:
- the prizes include banned goods or services
- any gift, reward or benefit related to the lottery includes banned goods or services
- the applicant has conducted a major lottery that was not financially viable and the minister considers another major lottery also a problem
- the terms and conditions for an unclaimed prize don’t give the winner a reasonable chance to claim it.
Tickets
Instant lottery tickets must not be sold to anyone under 18 years old and must be bought from an approved supplier. Each series of instant lottery tickets must include a unique serial number and have an equal chance of winning.
Instant lottery tickets must be manufactured, packaged and stored so that numbers, letters or symbols can’t be detected before a ticket is bought.
Financial requirements and record keeping
Your accounts must be audited annually and you must keep accurate records for instant lotteries including:
- the number of tickets sold
- the number of tickets that were available for sale
- the name of the ticket supplier
- the serial numbers of tickets sold
- opening and closing dates of each lottery
- the class or type of lottery
- details of where the net proceeds were distributed
- the administrative costs of conducting the lottery
If gross proceeds are $50,000 or more, you must provide an auditor’s report with your financial statement.
Records must be kept for at least a year from the day the licence expires.
Change or cancel a licence
Change a licence
Consumer and Business Services (CBS) must approve any changes to a lottery licence. A written request must be made to CBS with the reasons for the change.
In special circumstances, you can ask to have a lottery rule left out. It will only be allowed if it's fair to all participants. Extra conditions may need to be added to your licence.
Cancel a licence
A licence can be cancelled or suspended if:
- information given on the application was not accurate
- legislation is not followed
- licence conditions are not met
- the prizes include banned goods or services
- any gift, reward or benefit related to the lottery includes banned goods or services
- the organisation does not follow advertising rules
- the lottery has become financially unviable.
If the lottery is not (or will not be) financially successful, the organisation must write to CBS and ask to cancel the lottery. The letter must give a reason, the date ticket sales will stop, how ticket holders and the public will be notified, and how ticket buyers will be refunded.
