An AGLC casino or raffle licence is how many Calgary charities, community associations and minor sport clubs raise their most flexible money. Alberta's charitable gaming model lets eligible volunteer groups staff a casino for two days or run a licensed raffle, then use the proceeds for approved charitable purposes. For some Calgary community associations, a single casino covers most of the operating budget for the next two years.
It also comes with rules. Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) decides who is eligible, how long you wait, how the money is banked and what you can spend it on. This guide explains how AGLC casino and raffle licences work for Calgary groups, based on AGLC's published pages and forms. Policies change, so confirm details on aglc.ca before you apply.
Who is eligible for an AGLC gaming licence in Calgary?
AGLC licenses charitable and religious groups, not businesses, individuals or governments. To qualify, AGLC says a group generally must:
- Have Alberta volunteers who create, control and deliver its charitable program
- Have an elected executive chosen from those volunteers
- Have no paid members (volunteers aren't paid for gaming work)
- Offer programs that are open to the public
- Be incorporated in an acceptable form, such as a society, with bylaws that meet AGLC policy
That covers many community associations, minor hockey and soccer associations, school parent councils, arts groups and service clubs in Calgary. Charitable status from the CRA is not required, but your society must be in good standing. Start with AGLC's eligibility application, which applies to both casinos and raffles.
How AGLC casinos work for Calgary charities
Regions and wait times
AGLC assigns licensed groups to casino events within one of 10 regions in Alberta. Only licensed groups based in Calgary can hold casino events in Calgary, and the same rule applies in Edmonton. AGLC's casino page puts waits between roughly a year and a half and more than three years, depending on the region. Ask AGLC for the current Calgary estimate when you apply. A complete casino licence application takes about six weeks to review, and that review is separate from the wait.
How proceeds are shared
Calgary groups don't simply keep what their own two days earn. AGLC says groups that hold a casino event in the same region and quarter receive an equal share of proceeds. That evens out the luck of drawing a slow weekday versus a busy long weekend at a Calgary casino, but it also means you won't know your exact amount until the quarter is settled.
The volunteer shifts
A casino event runs over two days, and your group supplies trained volunteers for day shifts, night shifts and the count room. One Calgary community association, describing its August 2026 casino, asked for 38 volunteers across roles such as general manager, banker, cashier, chip runner and count room staff. Volunteers must be 18 or older, and paid members can't fill certain key roles. Start recruiting months ahead. Missing volunteers is one of the most stressful parts of a casino year.
What can you spend casino and raffle proceeds on?
This is where many Calgary groups get into trouble. AGLC's key principles on the use of charitable gaming proceeds say:
- Proceeds stay in a gaming account. Gaming money must be deposited in a separate account at an Alberta financial institution, and stay there until it's spent on approved uses. Idle funds can sit in CDIC-insured accounts or GICs.
- Only approved uses are allowed. Uses must be accommodated in AGLC's Charitable Gaming Policies Handbook. Some uses need prior approval from AGLC before you spend.
- Revenue-earning programs run on cost recovery. If a program also earns registration fees, admissions, rentals or grants, gaming funds can only cover what that revenue doesn't.
- Mistakes must be repaid. Money spent on unapproved uses has to be paid back into the gaming account from non-gaming funds, and AGLC can issue penalties.
The handbook spells out which program, facility, equipment and capital costs qualify, and the answer can differ by type of group. Read the relevant section before your board commits casino money to anything. If you plan to use casino money as your match for a CFEP grant or the City's Capital Conservation Grant, confirm the use with AGLC first and keep the paper trail. Our post on matching funds strategies covers how to present this to funders.
AGLC raffle licences: $20,000 and under vs. more than $20,000
Raffles are the other major form of charitable gaming in Calgary, and include 50/50 draws, car and house raffles and online raffles. AGLC sorts them by total ticket value, meaning the total dollar value of every ticket available, not the value of the prize.
| Raffle size | How you get a licence | Timing (per AGLC) |
|---|---|---|
| Total ticket value of $20,000 or less | AGLC confirms your eligibility, then you get the licence online or through an Alberta registry agent | Eligibility review takes about three to five business days |
| Total ticket value over $20,000 | Apply directly to AGLC's raffle licensing unit | Apply at least eight weeks before you need the licence number for printing, advertising or an online platform |
A few rules to know for larger raffles, based on AGLC's current application form:
- Tickets can't be sold to anyone under 18.
- Online sales must confirm the buyer is 18 or older and in Alberta at the time of purchase.
- If you use an electronic raffle system or random number generator, a separate addendum is required.
- If you hire a raffle ticket manager, AGLC needs a copy of the contract.
- A licence can't be used before it's issued, so don't print tickets early.
A 50/50 at a minor hockey tournament in Shawnessy usually falls into the small tier. A dream home lottery or big online 50/50 is the larger tier and needs real planning.
Financial reporting: don't skip it
Every licensed gaming event comes with a financial report to AGLC, and AGLC can review how proceeds were used. Late or messy reports create problems you don't want during your next licence application. Practical habits:
- Name one board member, ideally the treasurer, as the gaming lead.
- Record every disbursement from the gaming account with an invoice and board approval.
- Keep gaming and general accounts fully separate. Don't pay gaming expenses from the general account and "move it later."
- Diarize report deadlines as soon as your licence is issued.
Members of the Federation of Calgary Communities can get help with AGLC reports through its financial services. Our post on grant compliance and reporting covers similar habits for grants.
How gaming money fits with Calgary grants
Casino and raffle proceeds are not grants, but they interact with grants in three ways:
- As a match. Many programs, including CFEP and CIP, need matching funds. Gaming reserves can play that role, within AGLC's rules.
- As proof of stability. Funders like to see a group with diverse income. A regular casino shows you have dependable revenue beyond grants.
- As a reporting link. Some funders' money also comes from gaming. The Calgary Flames Foundation, for example, distributes 50/50 proceeds under AGLC rules and asks recipients to complete an AGLC form. See our guide to Calgary Flames Foundation grants.
Because casino timing is unpredictable and proceeds vary, it's best not to count on gaming alone. Build a mix with City programs such as those in our Calgary community association grants guide, sport funding from our Calgary youth sport club funding guide, and foundations. Our post on sustainability beyond grants has more ideas.
Planning your casino year
Once AGLC gives you a casino date, the work starts well before the weekend itself. A rough plan many Calgary groups follow:
- As soon as the date arrives: tell your board, put the dates on every calendar and name a casino chair.
- Three to four months out: start a volunteer sign-up, filling the key roles first. People with bookkeeping or cash-handling experience make good bankers and count room staff.
- Six to eight weeks out: confirm every volunteer, line up backups and confirm how volunteer training will be handled.
- The week of: send shift reminders, parking details and contact numbers.
- After the event: deposit proceeds into the gaming account when they arrive, thank your volunteers and set your reporting deadlines.
It also helps to decide how you'll use the money before it lands. A short board-approved spending plan, checked against AGLC's handbook, keeps proceeds from sitting idle or being spent on something that isn't allowed.
A simple checklist before you apply
- Society registration and bylaws current, with an AGLC-acceptable structure
- Executive elected from volunteers; no paid members doing gaming work
- A clear description of your charitable programs and who they serve
- A board resolution naming your gaming contacts
- A plan for opening a dedicated gaming bank account in Alberta
- A volunteer list you can grow into a casino roster
For questions, AGLC's casino page directs groups to its eligibility line at 1-800-272-8876.
From community halls in Ogden to minor sport associations in Tuscany, charitable gaming quietly keeps a lot of Calgary programs running. If your group wants help building a funding plan that combines gaming proceeds with grants, Alpine Grants can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the wait for an AGLC casino in Calgary?
AGLC says waits range from roughly a year and a half to more than three years depending on the region. Ask AGLC for the current Calgary estimate when you apply.
Can a Calgary group hold a casino outside the city?
AGLC assigns groups to events within their region, and only licensed groups based in Calgary can hold casino events in Calgary. The same rule applies in Edmonton.
Do we keep all the money our casino earns?
No. AGLC says groups that hold a casino event in the same region and quarter receive an equal share of proceeds, so your amount depends on the whole quarter.
What is the difference between small and large raffle licences?
Raffles with a total ticket value of $20,000 or less are licensed online or through a registry agent after AGLC confirms eligibility. Raffles over $20,000 need an application to AGLC at least eight weeks before you need the licence number.
Do we need charitable status for an AGLC licence?
CRA charitable status is not required. Groups must be volunteer-run, have an elected executive, offer public programs and be incorporated with bylaws that meet AGLC policy.