Lotteries and community gambling

Introduction

There are three types of lotteries which can be run in the Northern Territory - foreign, community and trade lotteries.

Community gambling activities such as raffles, lotto, tipping competitions, bingo, Calcuttas and sweepstakes are also allowed.

They are all governed by the Gaming Control Act 1993 and the Gaming Control (Community Gaming) Regulations 2006, and administered by Licensing NT.

They also must follow the guidelines in the Code of Practice for Responsible Gambling.


About community gaming in the NT

Community gaming activities such as lotteries, raffles, lotto, tipping competitions, bingo, Calcuttas and sweepstakes in the Northern Territory (NT) must comply with the rules and guidelines in the Gaming Control (Community Gaming) Regulations 2006 and the NT Code of Practice for Responsible Gambling.

Who can participate

You must be an approved association to conduct fundraising lotteries and games of chance.

You do not have to be incorporated, but you must have a proper constitution, identify your office holders and nominate a person to be responsible for conducting lotteries.

Read about how to become an approved association.

Once approved, an association can legally operate raffles, lotteries, Calcuttas, sweepstakes, bingo, tipping competitions and other games without a permit, provided that total ticket sales do not exceed $5,000. You need a permit for larger lotteries.

What you can do without a permit

An approved association may conduct any of the following without a permit:

  • Calcuttas, sweepstakes and bingo
  • free entry lottery with prizes totalling $2,000 or less
  • raffles with ticket sales of $5,000 or less
  • mini lotto with a prizes totalling $5,000 or less
  • a tipping competition with prizes totalling $5,000 or less.

Read more about conditions on community lotteries and games.

What you need a permit for

Minor lottery

A minor lottery is a game of chance similar to a raffle, where the total value of tickets or entry fees is between $5,001 and $20,000.

You need a permit to run a minor lottery and it must be run by an approved association.  Read more about becoming an approved association.

Major lottery

A major lottery is a game of chance or chance and skill where the total value of tickets is more than $20,000.

You need a permit to run a major lottery and it must be run by an approved association.

Read about how to apply for a minor or major lottery.

Trade lotteries

Trade lotteries which are run as promotions for an NT business. There are two types of trade lotteries minor and major.

A minor trade lottery has prizes totalling $5,000 or less, and does not need a permit.

A major trade lottery has prizes totalling more than $5,000 and does need a permit.

A  business needs a permit to run an interstate trade lottery if it does not already have a permit from another state.

Read about how to apply for a trade lottery.


How to play the game

Raffles

A raffle is a game of chance or lottery where the total value of tickets or entry fees is $5,000 or less. The winners are determined wholly or partly by chance, including random draws of tickets or numbers.

Minor lottery 

A minor lottery is a game of chance similar to a raffle where the total value of tickets or entry fees is between $5,001 and $20,000.

Major lottery

A major lottery is a game of chance or chance and skill where the total value of tickets is more than $20,000.

Bingo

Bingo is a game of probability where players mark off numbers on pre-printed cards as numbers are drawn randomly by a caller. The winner is the first person to mark off all their numbers, or numbers in a line, and announce they have bingo.

Mini- lotto

Mini-lotto is a game similar to TattsLotto where six numbers are drawn from a total of between seven and 40 numbers. The total value of prizes can be up to $5,000.

Tipping competitions

A tipping competition is a game of chance and skill where participants pick the win or lose result of a series of sporting matches or other events. The person who gets the highest number of correct results is the winner. The total value of prizes can be up to $5,000. Where total prizes are more than $5,000, the competition must be treated as a minor or major lottery and a permit is needed.

Sweepstakes

A sweepstake is a game where participants pay a set fee for a chance to win an allotment against a competitor in an event. Sweeps are commonly used for events such as the Melbourne Cup. Each participant is drawn a horse in the race and the winner/s of the sweepstake is determined by the result of the race / event. The prize pool, made up from the entry fees less any permitted deductions, is distributed to the sweepstake winner/s.

Calcuttas

A Calcutta is a more complex version of a sweepstake where participants purchase the chance to win an allotment against a competitor in an event/race and the allotments are auctioned. The holder of the allotment may elect to sell the right and receive 50% of the proceeds of the sale or to retain the right by making the highest bid and paying 50% of that bid. The prize pool, made up of the entry fees less any permitted deductions, is distributed to the holder of the rights against the winner and designated placegetters of that event.

Free entry lotteries

A free entry lottery is where a person is automatically entered by being a member of an association or by purchasing a ticket to a function. Examples are a weekly membership draw or a door prize at an event. If the prize is more than $2,000 the winner must be determined within four weeks after the date the prize reaches the maximum amount. The winner is determined by either holding repeated draws until the winner is determined or giving the prize to the participant with the nearest correct entry.


Conditions on lotteries, raffles and games

You need to be an approved association to run any of the activities listed below for fundraising or entertainment.

The permit you may require to run a lottery depends on the total value of tickets or entry fees.

Read more about how to become an approved association.

Permits

You do not need a permit to run a lottery or game if the total value of tickets or entry fees is  $5,000 or less.

You need a minor lottery permit if the total value of tickets or entry fees is between $5,000 and $20,000.

You need a major lottery permit if the total value is above $20,000.

Find out how to apply to run a major or minor lottery.

Conditions and restrictions

All of the following conditions apply to any form of lottery, raffle or game of chance run by an approved association:

  • you must run the lottery, raffle or game  in accordance with the Gaming Control Act 1993 and the NT Code of Practice for Responsible Gambling
  • if prizes are subject to restrictions and conditions, such as travel prizes, you must clearly display the term 'Conditions Apply' on the ticket and any promotion
  • the total value of the prizes must be at least one-third of the total value of the tickets or entry fees
  • liquor must not be a principal prize - this includes prizes consisting solely of money and liquor
  • you must not offer firearms, weapons, ammunition, explosives or tobacco products as prizes
  • you must clearly state the rules and conditions in writing on all promotional material, including prizes, when and how the lottery will be drawn, and how the winners are determined
  • the lottery must be drawn on the date specified, and prizes awarded to the winners as set out in the lottery's terms and conditions
  • if there is a dispute, complaint or investigation about the conduct or outcome of a lottery, the lottery organiser must demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Director-General of Licensing that it has complied with these conditions
  • no payment, fee, commission, remuneration or any other benefit whatsoever can be provided to any individual or organisation, whether or not it is connected with the approved association, in relation to the organisation or conduct of a lottery, raffle or game
  • if prizes are subject to restrictions and conditions, such as travel prizes, you must clearly display the term 'Conditions Apply' on the ticket and any promotion
  • all prizes must be given as offered
  • all tickets included in the draw, and any unsold tickets, must be kept by the association for 12 months.

Minor and major lotteries which need permits have more conditions.

Read more about minor and major lotteries.

Publicising a lottery

Any lottery publicity must not be misleading and must show the permit number, the rules and conditions if possible.


Become an approved association

If you are a community organisation, you can apply to become an approved association under the Gaming Control Act 1993 in the Northern Territory (NT).

This includes any association, society, institution or body which does business in the NT and carries out business for any of the following purposes:

  • religious, educational, benevolent or charitable
  • provides medical treatment or attention
  • promotes or encourages literature, science, art or a cultural activity
  • recreation or amusement
  • beautifying or improving a community centre
  • is certified in writing by the Director-General of Licensing to be an association under the Act.

If you are incorporated under the Associations Act 2003, you don't automatically qualify for approval under the Gaming Control Act 1993.

You can become an approved association without being an incorporated association. You have to submit a copy of your constitution with your application if you are not incorporated.

After you've received approval

If you are approved, you can run lotteries and raffles which include all of the following:

  • raffles with $5,000 or less in total ticket sales
  • tipping competitions and mini-lotto offering total prizes less than $5,000
  • bingo, sweepstakes and Calcuttas
  • minor or major lotteries where the total value of tickets is more than $5,000 - subject to approval
  • operate ticketing machines - subject to approval
  • lottery-type games of chance provided the games and prizes offered are not prohibited - subject to approval.

Documents you will need

You must include copies of the following where relevant to your organisation:

  • a copy of the certificate of incorporation of the association
  • a copy of the advice of an incorporating authority that the association is ineligible for incorporation
  • a statement by the governing body with reasons why the association is not incorporated
  • a certified copy of the association's constitution
  • a document identifying members of the governing body
  • a copy of the document appointing the authorised person.

How to apply

To apply for an approved association, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the approved association form.

Approved association form  DOCX (72.6 KB)
Approved association form PDF (167.3 KB)

Step 2. Attach supporting documents with your form.

Step 3. Submit your form and supporting documents to the Director-General of Licensing by mail or in person to a Territory Business Centre.

Appoint an authorised person

The organisation's governing body must appoint a member to act as their representative and be responsible for running the association's lotteries and raffles.

You must name the authorised person to the Director-General of Licensing within 14 days of the annual general meeting.

Keep your details up-to-date

You must provide details of any changes within your organisation such as any of the following:

  • change of office holders
  • change to contact details
  • change in number of members.

To update your details, fill in the update an approved association form and submit it to Licensing NT through a Territory Business Centre.

Update an approved association form DOCX (72.3 KB)
Update an approved association form PDF (163.5 KB)

Changes or revoked approved status

You will be told in writing of any changes to your approval conditions or if your approval is revoked.

The approved association can apply in writing to change or cancel their approved status.

Why approval might be suspended or revoked

Your organisation's status as an approved association can be suspended or revoked for any of the following reasons:

  • approval was based on false or misleading information
  • association representatives have broken the Act, regulations and condition of approval or permit
  • the integrity of the conduct of a lottery is threatened
  • association representatives have acted outside the association’s constitution or public interest
  • changes to the association’s constitution is inconsistent with the requirements for continued approval.

Suspended or revoked approvals

You will be advised in writing if your approval is to be suspended or revoked.

You have 14 days to respond and provide reasons why it shouldn't happen.

Your submission will be considered before a final outcome is advised in writing.

In exceptional circumstances, your association's approval could be suspended and advised in writing. You can request a review of the decision within 14 days.

If the suspension is not lifted, you will be given reasons in writing within 28 days of your submission.


Apply to run a minor or major lottery

You need to apply for a permit for any lottery or game of chance in the Northern Territory (NT) where ticket sales or entry fees total more than $5,000.

Read about community gaming in the NT for more information on permits and who can apply.

To run a lottery, you must become an approved association.

Before you apply

Before you apply for a lottery permit, you must do all of the following:

  • work out the number of tickets, ticket price, rules and conditions
  • how the lottery will be drawn
  • where and how prizes will be awarded
  • organise the prizes, tickets and any promotional material.

Documents you will need

You must also provide the following with your application:

  • copies of promotional material
  • copies of the tickets.

Application timeframes

It usually takes about 10 days to process an application.

You must submit your application:

  • no earlier than 3 months before the lottery starts
  • no later than 14 days before the lottery start date.

How to apply

Step 1. Fill in the conduct a minor or major lottery form. You can also get a copy from a Territory Business Centre or Licensing NT office.

Conduct a minor or major lottery form DOCX (71.7 KB)
Conduct a minor or major lottery form PDF (156.0 KB)

Step 2. Attach supporting documents with your form.

Step 2. Submit your form and supporting documents by email, mail or in person to a Territory Business Centre.

Conditions on a minor or major lottery

You must follow the conditions below for all lotteries where the total value of tickets or entry fees is more than $5,000.

Conducting a lottery

You must follow all of these rules:

  • be an approved association where the authorised member is responsible for running the lottery - you must tell Licensing NT if the authorised person changes
  • follow the Gaming Control (Community Gaming) Regulations 2006 and NT Code of Practice for Responsible Gambling
  • no-one connected with the organisation which is running the lottery can receive any kind of personal benefit from the lottery, raffle or game - there must be no payment, fee, commission, remuneration or any other benefit
  • you cannot provide a prize for the seller of the most tickets, but you can provide a prize for the seller of the winning ticket
  • you cannot give a lottery permit to another person or organisation.

Tickets

You must follow all of the these rules:

  • you can sell tickets for a maximum of three months
  • the ticket must contain all the required information such as terms and conditions
  • if prizes are subject to restrictions and conditions, such as travel prizes, you must clearly display the term 'Conditions Apply' on the ticket and any promotion
  • all tickets included in the draw and unsold tickets must be kept by the association for 12 months
  • if tickets are sold but not included in the draw, you must provide a refund to the buyers within 60 days.
  • you must pay any un-refunded money to the Director-General of Licensing for contributing to the Community Benefit Fund.

Prizes

You must follow all of these rules:

  • the value of prizes must be at least one third of the total value of the tickets
  • you must not offer liquor as a principal prize, including prizes consisting solely of money and liquor
  • you must not offer firearms, weapons, ammunition, explosives or tobacco products as prizes
  • where practicable, you must display all prizes throughout the ticket selling period and give people the opportunity to see them
  • you must accurately describe the prizes on the ticket
  • you must keep all prizes until they are collected by the prize-winner or disposed of according to the regulations
  • you must get approval from the Director-General of Licensing if you want to make any changes to prizes, the lottery duration, or the place, date or time of the draw
  • you must give all prizes as offered - prizes unclaimed for more than 3 months after the date of draw must be given to the Director-General of Licensing
  • you must bank lottery proceeds as soon as possible.

Change your permit

You can ask to change a permit by applying in writing to the Director-General of Licensing.

You will be notified in writing if your request has been granted and of any changes imposed.

Drawing the winners

You must follow all of the following rules:

  • the lottery must be drawn on the date specified, and prizes awarded to the winners as set out in the lottery's terms and conditions - ticket holders don't need to be present
  • if there is a dispute, complaint or investigation you must demonstrate the lottery has followed conditions
  • two of your approved office bearers must be present at the draw.

After the lottery

You must publish the winner's names as well as submit and keep records.

Published winners

You must publish the names of the major prize winners in a local newspaper within 14 days of the draw.

You must publish the winner's names of prizes worth $1,000 or more.

Records

You must send the following to Licensing NT after the draw:

You must keep all financial records for:

  • minor lotteries - for a period of 2 years
  • major lottery - for a period of 7 years.

If your organisation receives a qualified annual audit report, they must send it to the Director-General of Licensing within 2 weeks.

If a lottery or raffle is cancelled

If the Director-General of Licensing cancels a lottery or raffle, the organiser must try to refund tickets within 60 days.

Any unrefunded money must be paid to the Director-General of Licensing for contributing to the Community Benefit Fund.


Apply to run a trade lottery

A trade lottery is a game of chance conducted by a Northern Territory (NT) business or approved association for promotional purposes, and can involve elements of chance and skill.

Find out how to become an approved association.

If you're an interstate business or association that has a lottery permit in another state or territory, you can also run the lottery in the NT without a local permit.

You don't need a permit for a minor trade lottery which has prizes to the value of $5,000 or less.

How to apply

To apply to run a trade lottery, follow these steps:

Step 1. Get all information you need to complete the application.

Step 2. Fill in the application to conduct a trade lottery, which you can also get from a Territory Business Centre or Licensing NT.

Application to conduct a trade lottery DOCX (72.2 KB)
Application to conduct a trade lottery PDF (163.4 KB)

Step 3. Submit your application in person or post it to a Territory Business Centre.

You should allow at least 10 days for your application to be processed.

Varying a permit

You can apply in writing to the Director-General of Licensing to vary a permit.

You must outline the change requested and reasons for it. You will be notified in writing if your request has been granted.

Conditions for trade lotteries

Both major and minor trade lotteries must meet all of the following standard conditions:

  • you must run a trade lottery in accordance with the Gaming Control (Community Gaming) Regulations 2006
  • you must run it in a way that complies with the NT Code of Practice for Responsible Gambling
  • you must not include a prohibited game
  • entry must be free but can be conditional on buying goods or services
  • each entry must have an equal chance of winning the major prize
  • liquor must not be a principal prize - this includes prizes consisting solely of money and liquor
  • you cannot offer firearms, weapons, ammunition, explosives or tobacco products as prizes
  • you must not award a prize to a person under 18 years old - includes liquor, goods or services that are restricted by law to people over 18 years old
  • you must clearly state all of the following on entry forms and promotional material:
    • the lottery terms and conditions - terms and conditions must be fair and equitable
    • the permit number - if applicable
    • the period in which it is being run
    • the draw date
    • details of how the winners are determined
    • how winners will be notified
  • if prizes are subject to restrictions and conditions, such as travel prizes, you must clearly display the term 'conditions apply' on the ticket and any promotion
  • no employees of the business or their family members may participate
  • the lottery must be drawn on the date specified, and prizes awarded to the winners as set out in the lottery's terms and conditions
  • if there is a dispute, complaint or investigation about the conduct or outcome of a lottery, the business conducting the lottery must demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Director-General of Licensing that it has complied with these conditions
  • you must publish the names of the major prize winners in a local or a national newspaper.

Lottery publicity

Any lottery publicity must not be misleading and must show the permit number (if applicable) and the rules and conditions.

If you publicise a major trade lottery before you have been granted a permit, the promotional material must state it is subject to approval and will not proceed if the permit is not granted.

Before prizes are collected

You must hold onto prizes until they are:

  • collected by the winners or
  • they are to be disposed of under the rules for unclaimed prizes - see below.

If the prize is property and includes a house or other buildings, you must maintain the buildings and insure them for their full market value against loss or damage, until the property can transferred to the winner.

You are able to receive rent or profits from the property until the transfer of ownership.

Unclaimed prizes

If prizes are still unclaimed after 3 months, you must surrender them to the Director-General of Licensing if they do not contain perishable goods.

You can sell unclaimed prizes containing perishable goods for a reasonable price and use the money to support the approved association.

Changes to draw arrangements

If you can't draw the lottery as proposed or approved, you can apply to the Director-General of Licensing to change the place, date or time.

If the change is approved, it must be publicly advertised.

With all lotteries and raffles, the Director-General of Licensing may instruct a lottery to be drawn and prizes awarded if circumstances require it.

Published results

You must publish the results of the draw in a local newspaper or the specific publication stated in the lottery terms and conditions.

Keeping records

​The person running the trade lottery must keep full records for at least 2 years.

These must include:

  • entries
  • prizes
  • publication of winners
  • evidence of prizes being awarded.

You must make records available in the event of an investigation.

If a lottery or raffle is cancelled

If the Director-General of Licensing cancels a lottery or raffle, the organiser must take reasonable steps to issue refunds to ticket buyers within 60 days.

Any unrefunded money must be paid to the Director-General of Licensing for contributing to the Community Benefit Fund.


Prohibited games in the NT

You can only run the games listed below if you have a casino licence in the Northern Territory (NT)

An approved association or business must not run any of them as a fundraiser or promotional activity.

  • American Roulette
  • Baccarat
  • Big Six Wheel - Money Wheel
  • Blackjack
  • Craps
  • Keno
  • Pai Gow
  • Poker - all versions
  • Poker machines
  • Sic Bo - big and small
  • Two Up - some exemptions apply on special occasions - check with Licensing NT.

Reporting a prohibited game

If you know of a prohibited game being run, you can make a written complaint about it to the Director-General of Licensing who can investigate it. 

Your complaint can be sent to Licensing NT.

Complaint information 

Your complaint should be clear and must include all of the following information:

  • name of the person or organisation conducting the prohibited game
  • date and location of the game
  • how it was promoted
  • permit number - if relevant and if available.

If a complaint is upheld

If your complaint is upheld the organiser of the prohibited game can be directed to do either of the following:

  • comply with the regulations
  • stop the prohibited game.

Penalties

If the game organiser is found to have committed a serious breach of the Act or regulations, they may be fined 17 penalty units.


Making a complaint about a lottery

If you are dissatisfied with a trade lottery you can complain in writing to the Director-General of Licensing, who may investigate. The lottery organiser must demonstrate they have complied with the Act and any other conditions.

What to include in a complaint

Your complaint needs to be clear and you must include the following: 

  • name of the person conducting the trade lottery
  • date and location of the lottery
  • how the trade lottery was promoted
  • your particular concerns
  • permit number - if relevant and available.

Where to send a complaint

​Send your written complaint to the Director-General of Licensing at Licensing NT.

If a complaint is upheld

If the Director-General upholds your complaint after an investigation, they can direct the organiser of the lottery to do any of the following:

  • validate the draw
  • invalidate the draw and undertake another draw under the supervision of the Director-General
  • cancel the lottery or game of chance and take action. 

Penalties

If the lottery organiser is found to have been in breach of the Act or regulations the following may apply:  

  • the permit may be revoked
  • the status of an approved association may be revoked and/or they may be fined 17 penalty units.