Charitable gaming policy amendments

Policy Amendments to the Charitable Gaming Policies Handbook

At AGLC, we continue to review and improve our policies. To add increased clarity to eligibility criteria and use of proceeds policies for charitable organizations, AGLC has made amendments to the following sections of the Charitable Gaming Policies Handbook (CGPH), effective March 15, 2018:

1.1 Definitions
             Added clarity to the meaning of common terms used throughout the CGPH. This included:
 
  • Active delivery of a program or service
  • Broad-based membership
  • Building account
  • Capital costs
  • Commercial use
  • Cost recovery
  • Facility
  • Facility cost
  • Leasehold improvements
  • Operating costs
  • Regular/ongoing
  • Related party
  • Related party transaction
  • Renovation
  • Self-sustaining

     

    1.3 Application for Licence
    Std. 2      Added clarity around incomplete licence applications. Applications will only be reviewed if they are received by AGLC fully complete.
    Std. 3 Removed some internal process information to reflect current AGLC practices.

     

    2.1 Charitable & Religious Groups Basic Eligibility
    Std. 1e Added clarity to reinforce that charitable and religious programs must not be for their members’ self-interest or individual/personal benefit.
    Std. 1h;
    Proc. 7f          
    These two items in the CGPH were deleted, as there is no longer a requirement for groups to have a dissolution clause in their by-laws.
    Proc. 7a Expanded the rules for broad base volunteer membership to align with the definition in Section 1.1.
    Proc. 12 & 13 Updated AGLC’s appeal process to reflect current practices.
    Proc. 14-20 Removed these procedures, as they no longer reflect AGLC’s appeal process.

     

    3.2 Aid of the Distressed Eligibility
             Added clarity around what a social service is, relative to this policy.

     

    3.3 Arts Groups Eligibility

    Std. 1      Added clarity around licensing requirements for an arts program and its activities.
    Std. 3   Added clarity to emphasize that professional art groups are not eligible for licensing, as per current practice.
    Std. 7 Added clarity that an art school that does not deliver its own program is not eligible for licensing.

     

    3.9 Ethno-Cultural Eligibility
      Added clarity for ethno-cultural groups. As per current practice, these groups must offer regular/ongoing educational programs or cultural activities. These programs and activities must be open and advertised to the community to be eligible for licensing.
    Std. 1                      Added clarity that if they exist for a social nature, as per current policy, they are still ineligible for a charitable gaming licence.

     

    3.13 Hobby/Social Groups Eligibility
                Added clarity for hobby/social groups. As per current policy, these groups continue to be ineligible for a charitable gaming licence.

     

    3.21 Senior Citizen Groups Eligibility
      Added clarity around the types of activities considered as eligible under this category.
    Std. 2       Added clarity that seniors’ programs and services must be open and advertised to all seniors in the community wishing to participate.

     

    3.22 Sports Groups Eligibility
      Added clarity for adult sports groups that do not benefit youth, seniors or the disabled. These groups are still not eligible for licensing.
    Std. 2 Removed reference to the minimum requirements for membership or participation in particular sports groups (i.e. adults, disabled, seniors and youth). All members or participants must meet the criteria described for that particular sports group.
    Std. 15      Removed the minimum percentage requirements to add clarity. All youth in this group must be 21 years of age and under.
    Std. 16                    Added clarity for groups formed to promote leisure-time, recreation, personal or social interests, with activities focussed around participation in sporting events. These groups continue to be ineligible for licensing.

     

    3.24 Veterans, Service & Fraternal Groups

    Std. 5     

    Removed details on use of proceeds percentage adjustment. The information is available in Section 5.11.

                            

    3.27 Community Facility Eligibility

                           Created new policy to support the eligibility requirements for groups whose sole purpose is to provide a facility for community use and do not deliver charitable programs of their own.

     

    4.4 General Use of Proceeds

    Std. 9-11      Added clarity regarding extending the disbursement of proceeds for a period longer than the 24 months allowed for in policy.

     

    5.11 Facility

                                        Enhanced and reorganized to provide more in-depth information and clarity relating to the use of proceeds for facility expenses (e.g. leasing vs. owning, renovations/leasehold improvements, and financing/sale of a facility). In addition, this policy was broadened to include eligibility criteria for:
     
    • groups, currently limited to 50% use of proceeds for facilities, to increase their limit to 75% if certain criteria is met; and
    • groups to request to have an unencumbered facility, originally purchased, constructed, refinanced or renovated with proceeds, to be designated as a vested facility.

       

      Please familiarize yourself with the amended policies, which you can access in the Charitable Gaming Policies Handbook. Also, ensure those affected by the policy amendments are notified of the new requirements.

      If you have any questions or concerns, please call 1-800-272-8876.