What this application does
The lottery or bingo licence application allows you to apply for a licence to hold a lottery, draw or bingo where the value of the prize is over €5,000. If it is under €5,000, you can apply to An Garda Síochána for a permit.
You must make your application to the court at least sixty days before the lottery, draw or bingo will be promoted. If you already have a lottery licence, this means you will need to make your new application at least sixty days before your current licence expires.
What conditions need to be met
To apply to the District Court for a lottery licence, each occurrence of the lottery must comply with the following conditions:
- Must be for a charitable or philanthropic purpose (at least 25% of total proceeds).
- Applicant shall receive no personal profit from the lottery.
- Total value of prizes must not exceed €30,000 if more than one lottery is held in a week, or must not exceed €360,000 if one lottery is held in any year.
- Value of each prize must be stated on the ticket, or prominently displayed where the lottery is being held.
- Not more than 25% of total proceeds must be used on expenses of the lottery.
- Not more than 75% of total proceeds should be allocated for prizes.
How much does this application cost
There is a fee of €150 per application.
How to prepare
Before completing the application, please review the details you will need to provide:
- Details of the applicant, for example, you name and role in the organisation ("Particulars of character of the applicant").
- Number of lotteries already in operation in the area on a similar basis, for example, weekly club lotto for local tennis club ("Periodical lotteries already in operation in the locality").
- Purpose of the lottery, for example, to raise funds for a charity, to raise funds for a club. You must make sure to include the club's official name here ("Purpose of the lottery (including name of any intended beneficiary)").
- How the lottery is intended to operate, for example, online draw or in-person, in addition to frequency such as weekly or monthly.
- The nature and value of each of the prizes and the total value of prizes.
- The amount or proportion of the proceeds intended to be used to cover the costs of the lottery.
- The proportion of the proceeds (percentage is necessary) intended to be allocated to prizes.
- The proportion of the proceeds (percentage is necessary) intended to be allocated to a charitable or philanthropic purposes.
How to apply
1. Complete your application
You can complete Form 66.3 manually or online using CSOL (legal practitioners only).
2. Serve the notice parties
You will need to notify or serve the relevant notice parties for your application. Please see our serving and proof of service page for more information.
For this application the notice parties are:
- An Garda Síochána must be notified at least twenty eight days prior to the court date.
- The Fire Officer must be notified at least one month prior to the court date (only relevant where the application relates to a bingo licence).
3. Submit your application
Your application must be lodged at least seven days prior to the court date.
4. Provide proofs to the court office
You must provide the required supporting documentation or "proofs" to the court office. This must be done manually as there is currently no option to upload the "proofs" listed below through CSOL.
What proofs are required
- Original notice of application with relevant stamp duty,
- Statutory declaration of service (where application is manually served).
What happens when the application is heard in court
When making a decision the District Court will consider:
- the character of the applicant,
- the number of periodical lotteries already in operation in the locality,
- the purpose of the lottery.
The District Court will either grant the application and issue the licence or refuse the application. A licence cannot be granted for a period of more than twelve months.
