The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) amended its Break Open Tickets (BOTs) licensing framework on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, with three reforms designed to reduce administrative burden and add flexibility for charities and Gaming Related Suppliers (GRS) that produce the pull-tab style tickets used in charitable lottery fundraising across the province.
BOTs are the paper tickets sold at charitable gaming centres, community halls, and licensed retail locations across Ontario. Proceeds support registered charities through licensed lottery events, and the revenue split between charities and suppliers is regulated by the AGCO. Under the changes announced today, the AGCO is opening the door to new low-price ticket formats, unifying all BOT licensing under a single revenue model, and giving suppliers more leeway on graphics approval.
What the AGCO's BOT Framework Reform Changes
The AGCO's bulletin lays out three reforms, two effective immediately on July 29, 2026, and a third that takes effect on September 30, 2026.
1. New $0.50 BOTs and higher-count $1 BOTs now permitted
Effective July 29, 2026, the AGCO will accept licence applications for new BOTs priced at $0.50 and for new $1 tickets with counts greater than 5,000. Both formats will be licensed under the Revenue Split Model rather than the older Section A schedule. The AGCO says the decision follows sector feedback requesting cheaper and higher-volume ticket formats; suppliers can now submit these ticket types for approval and addition to the BOT licensing schedule.
2. All BOT licensing moves to the Revenue Split Model on September 30, 2026
Beginning September 30, 2026, every approved BOT type, regardless of whether it was previously listed under Section A of the schedule, will be transitioned and licensed under the Revenue Split Model (previously referred to as Section B). The Revenue Split Model allocates 50% of net win to the supplier (covering supplier expenses, full HST, seller commission, shipping, dispenser costs, and licence fee) and 50% to the charity (covering charity administration costs).
Existing approved ticket types are unaffected until the transition date. Any tickets ordered or invoiced before September 30, 2026 will continue to be subject to the current licensing and expense framework. The change applies to all BOTs, including those sold by a BOT seller (third-party retailer), in the licensee's own location, and in non-pooling bingo halls.
3. Gaming Related Suppliers get flexibility on graphics approval
Effective July 29, 2026, the AGCO is removing the requirement for Gaming Related Suppliers to submit BOT graphics for approval during the licensing process, unless the Registrar specifically requests them. The Registrar retains the authority to require ticket graphics as a condition of approval. Suppliers remain bound by the ticket requirements in the Standards for Suppliers of Goods and Services: Break Open Tickets and the Lottery Licensing Policy Manual, including information printed on tickets, ticket construction, security and integrity, and advertising / responsible gambling rules.
Why the AGCO Is Making These Changes
The reforms are part of the AGCO's broader modernization push across Ontario's charitable gaming framework. The Revenue Split Model itself was originally announced in December 2021 and amended in July 2022; today's bulletin rolls it out as the default model for all BOTs rather than a separate track.
Reporting requirements are also being simplified. Charities will continue to file the existing Break Open Ticket Lottery Report, but during the transition they may report both revenue models on the same form, identified by ticket type. Charities will no longer be required to report their administrative expenses, the seller commission, or the dispenser fee, which the AGCO says reduces regulatory burden for charities, suppliers, and licensing authorities.
What Suppliers and Charities Need to Do
For suppliers, the immediate action is to update product roadmaps to include the new $0.50 and higher-count $1 BOT formats, which can now be submitted for approval under the Revenue Split Model. Graphics submissions are no longer required by default unless the Registrar requests them, though suppliers must still comply with the underlying ticket construction and integrity standards.
For charities, the September 30, 2026 transition is the headline date. Tickets ordered or invoiced before that date remain on the current framework; tickets ordered or invoiced on or after that date must be licensed under the Revenue Split Model. Charities should review their reporting templates with the option to record both revenue models on the same report during the transition window.
How the BOT Reform Connects to Ontario's Broader Regulatory Picture
The BOT framework sits alongside Ontario's broader charitable lottery regime, which includes bingo, raffles, and the new media-bingo livestream framework that the AGCO opened for comment in June 2026. Charitable gaming in Ontario is distinct from the regulated iGaming market that AGCO's iGaming Ontario subsidiary oversees, though both fall under the AGCO's regulatory umbrella.
For context on how the AGCO's enforcement track has run parallel to these modernization efforts, our AGCO fines Great Canadian Entertainment $120,000 coverage walks through a recent enforcement action at the operator level. For background on the live-dealer and online-casino segment, our Ontario iGaming channelization at 91% article traces the parallel modernization of the regulated online market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the AGCO change about Break Open Tickets on July 29, 2026?
The AGCO amended its BOT licensing framework in three ways: it permitted new $0.50 BOTs and $1 BOTs with counts above 5,000 effective immediately; it scheduled a transition of all BOT licensing to the Revenue Split Model on September 30, 2026; and it removed the default requirement for Gaming Related Suppliers to submit ticket graphics for approval unless the Registrar requests them.
When does the Revenue Split Model apply to all BOTs?
Beginning September 30, 2026, every approved BOT type will be licensed under the Revenue Split Model. Existing approved ticket types are unaffected until the transition date, and tickets ordered or invoiced before September 30, 2026 continue under the current licensing and expense framework.
Can charities still report both revenue models on the same form?
Yes. During the transition period, charities may report both revenue models on the same Break Open Ticket Lottery Report. The applicable revenue model is identified by the ticket type. Charities will no longer be required to report administrative expenses, seller commission, or dispenser fees.
Do suppliers still need AGCO approval for BOT graphics?
Not by default. Effective July 29, 2026, Gaming Related Suppliers are no longer required to submit BOT graphics for approval during the licensing process unless the Registrar specifically requests them. The Registrar retains the authority to require ticket graphics as a condition of approval, and suppliers must continue to comply with the underlying ticket construction, security, and integrity standards.