The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has updated its charitable lottery licensing policies for media bingo to allow eligible charitable organizations to offer livestream bingo broadcasts in response to stakeholder feedback and to support continued modernization in the charitable gaming sector.
These updates reduce burden, provide eligible charitable organizations with greater flexibility and additional fundraising opportunities, and further the AGCO's commitment to fostering industry sustainability and innovation.
What is Changing?
Effective June 23, 2026, eligible charitable organizations may broadcast media bingo via a livestream on a web page as an alternative to airing the broadcast on a local cable television station.
This update allows media bingo to be offered through a modern broadcast format while preserving the existing structure and requirements of the licensed events.
What is not Changing?
Livestream media bingo must continue to operate in the same way as television media bingo.
All existing requirements that currently apply to media bingo events will also apply to livestream media bingo. This includes all applicable rules set out in the Lottery Licensing Policy Manual (LLPM) and the Media Bingo Licence Terms and Conditions, such as:
- Charities must sell paper bingo cards through the charity itself, or through local merchants selling on behalf of the licensed organization; and
- Players are required to call a local telephone number to claim a 'BINGO' win. Use of features that allow players to call 'BINGO' electronically are not permitted.
Lottery Licensing Policy Manual Updates
The LLPM section 9.3.2(F) has been updated to reflect this change.
- 9.3.2(F) Media Bingo
"Media Bingo is operated through the public media including radio, newspaper, television, or livestream. Media Bingo differs from Regular Bingo in that the licensee may only sell bingo cards that have a clearly visible, consecutively numbered serial number. This is for tracking purposes, as bingo cards are usually distributed to local merchants who sell the bingo cards on behalf of the licensee organization. The licence number must appear on all Media Bingo cards."
[…] - Television or Livestream Bingo
"This type of bingo is usually aired over a local cable television station or a livestream on a webpage in a half-hour or hour-long program. The winner is the first person to phone in and claim a bingo during the broadcast."
Media Bingo Licence Terms and Conditions Updates
The Media Bingo Licence Terms and Conditions section 3.3.(a) has been updated to reflect livestream bingos.
Contact the AGCO for more information
Charitable gaming-related inquiries can be sent directly to the AGCO's Eligibility Officers at lotterylicensing@agco.ca.
For additional questions or support, contact the AGCO via the iAGCO online portal or call Customer Service, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 416-326-8700 or toll-free at 1-800-522-2876.