Atlantic Lottery Regulations
made under Section 127 of the
Gaming Control Act
S.N.S. 1994-95, c. 4
O.I.C. 95-255 (effective April 4, 1995), N.S. Reg. 36/1995
amended to O.I.C. 2021-49 (effective February 4, 2021), N.S. Reg. 38/2021
Table of Contents
Please note: this table of contents is provided for convenience of reference and does not form part of the regulations.
Click here to go to the text of the regulations.
Citation
Definitions
Application of regulations
Nature of lottery schemes
Types of prizes
Consideration and terms and conditions of lottery schemes
Sale of lottery tickets
Retailer operating procedures
Age restrictions
Credit granting and loans
Signature required for validation
Validating tickets
Lottery Corporation to provide equipment
Prize account
Application of Section 8 to online games
Payment of prizes
More than 1 claimant for same prize
Retailer prize payout
Retailer to report problems to Lottery Corporation
Retailer winning over $1000
Auditing
Tickets from Interprovincial Lottery Corporation
Former Nova Scotia Lottery Commission
Special purpose funds or trust funds
Lottery equipment supplier as class of suppliers for registration
Actions limited to registered lottery equipment suppliers
Designated goods and services
Lottery equipment supplier registration or renewal
Lottery equipment
Notification when selling or leasing lottery equipment
Approval of lottery equipment
Supplier to notify Executive Director of problem with lottery equipment
Alterations to lottery equipment
Lottery scheme standards
Notifying Executive Director of lottery scheme being introduced
Approval of lottery scheme
Notifying Executive Director when removing lottery scheme from sale
Internal control system for integrity of lottery schemes
Lottery Corporation reporting to Executive Director
Citation
1 These regulations may be cited as the Atlantic Lottery Regulations.
Definitions
2 In these regulations
“Act” means the Gaming Control Act;
“Corporation” means the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation;
“linked bingo” means a bingo-type lottery scheme offered by the Lottery Corporation
that electronically links 2 or more participating premises during a portion of their
regularly scheduled bingo sessions;
“Lottery Corporation” means the Atlantic Lottery Corporation Inc.;
“lottery equipment” means all of the following:
(i) a ticket,
(ii) a terminal for selling or validating tickets,
(iii) a ticket checker,
(iv) any computer equipment or software used by the Lottery Corporation, a
lottery equipment supplier or a retailer in operating a lottery scheme
governed by these regulations,
(v) a lottery management system,
(vi) any equipment that could influence the outcome of a lottery scheme or,
in the opinion of the Executive Director, is integral to conducting,
managing or operating a lottery scheme;
“lottery equipment supplier” means a person, other than the Lottery Corporation, the
Corporation or the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation, who does any of the
following:
(i) manufactures, provides, installs, tests, maintains or repairs lottery
equipment,
(ii) provides gaming services that could influence the outcome of a lottery
scheme or, in the opinion of the Executive Director, are integral to
conducting, managing or operating a lottery scheme;
“lottery management system” means a centralized computer system for monitoring
lottery equipment and for recording or transmitting gaming information or
information about transactions in a lottery scheme;
“online game” means a single-player or multi-player lottery scheme, including
without limitation, casino style games and interactive games, conducted and
managed by the Corporation and operated by the Lottery Corporation and played on
or through the Internet or another electronic channel;
“registered lottery equipment supplier” means a lottery equipment supplier registered
under Part II of the Act as a registered supplier;
“retailer” means a person authorized by the Lottery Corporation to sell tickets to the
public;
“ticket” means an opportunity to participate in a lottery scheme and includes a ticket,
certificate, electronic record or other instrument issued under a lottery scheme and
authorized for sale by the Corporation;
“ticket checker” means a computer device that is linked to the Lottery Corporation’s
lottery management system and enables a player to independently check whether a
ticket is a winning ticket;
“winner” means a person entitled to a prize under a lottery scheme.
Application of regulations
2A These regulations apply to lottery schemes conducted and managed by the Corporation and
operated by the Lottery Corporation, but do not apply to lottery schemes to which the
following regulations apply:
(a) the Video Lottery Regulations made under the Act;
(b) the Casino Regulations made under the Act.
Nature of lottery schemes
3 A lottery scheme must consist of a system for issuing and selling tickets and for
distributing prizes to winners selected in one of the following ways:
(a) at random from among the holders of tickets issued or sold;
(b) in relation to the outcome of sporting events or other events and in accordance
with game rules established by the Lottery Corporation.
Types of prizes
3A A prize must consist of one of the following:
(a) a sum of money;
(b) goods.
Consideration and terms and conditions of lottery schemes
4 (1) Under each lottery scheme, the Lottery Corporation must fix the consideration to be
paid or given to secure a chance to win prizes and the amounts and values of prizes
and the terms and conditions thereof.
(2) The Lottery Corporation must ensure that the terms and conditions of every ticket
under a lottery scheme are made available to each player making a purchase under
the scheme, as follows:
(a) they are printed on each ticket; or
(b) they are presented electronically upon purchase.
Sale of lottery tickets
5 (1) The Lottery Corporation is responsible for the promotion of lottery schemes and for
the sale of tickets.
(2) Tickets may be sold to the public directly by the Lottery Corporation or indirectly
through retailers.
(3) Where the Lottery Corporation issues or sells tickets to a retailer, a discount or
commission fixed by the Lottery Corporation must be granted to the retailer.
(4) A retailer must not sell a ticket at a price other than the face amount shown on the
ticket.
Retailer operating procedures
6 (1) If tickets in a lottery scheme are to be sold through retailers, the Lottery Corporation
must submit retailer operating procedures for the lottery scheme to the Executive
Director for approval.
(2) Retailer operating procedures must include procedures for activating tickets, selling
tickets, validating tickets and paying prizes.
(3) The Lottery Corporation must ensure that each retailer is provided with a copy of the
approved retailer operating procedures for each lottery scheme the retailer
participates in.
(4) The Lottery Corporation must take all reasonable steps to ensure that a retailer acts in
accordance with the approved retailer operating procedures.
(5) A retailer must comply with the approved retailer operating procedures.
(6) This Section does not apply to linked bingo.
Age restrictions
7 (1) A person must not sell a ticket to a person who is under 19 years old.
(2) A retailer must not validate a ticket presented by a person who is under 19 years old.
(3) A retailer must not pay out a prize to a person who is under 19 years old.
(4) A retailer must require a person who appears to be under 19 years old to provide
proof of age before doing any of the following:
(a) selling a ticket to the person;
(b) validating a ticket presented by the person;
(c) paying out a prize to the person.
Credit granting and loans
7A A retailer must not grant credit or provide a loan to enable a person to buy a ticket.
Signature required for validation
7B If a ticket contains a line for the signature of the ticket-holder, a retailer must not validate
the ticket unless it has been signed.
Validating tickets
7C (1) This Section applies if a retailer validates tickets through a computer terminal linked
to the Lottery Corporation’s lottery management system, except that it does not apply
to linked bingo.
(2) A retailer must locate any computer terminal used to validate a ticket so that the
ticket validation results are visible to the person presenting the ticket for validation.
(3) After validating a ticket, a retailer must immediately
(a) give the person presenting the ticket a validation slip that corresponds to the
ticket being presented for validation; and
(b) return the ticket to the person presenting the ticket.
(4) A retailer must ensure that a ticket checker is available and accessible for use by any
person who wishes to check a ticket held by that person.
Lottery Corporation to provide equipment
7D The Lottery Corporation must ensure that a retailer is provided with the lottery equipment
required for the retailer to comply with these regulations and the retail operating
procedures for all lottery schemes the retailer participates in.
Prize account
8 (1) The Lottery Corporation must deposit an amount equal to the sum of the prizes
announced as payable in respect of each lottery scheme in an account in the name of
the Lottery Corporation called the “prize account” to be maintained with a chartered
bank or trust company.
(2) For each lottery scheme, 3 years from the date of the draw, or any later time that the
Corporation determines, the Lottery Corporation must transfer from the prize
account and deposit with a chartered bank or trust company in the name of the
Lottery Corporation, in an account called the “special prize account”, an amount
equal to the sum of the prizes announced as payable in respect of that lottery scheme
which have not been claimed or paid and payment must be made out of the special
prize account only to pay prizes.
Application of Section 8 to online games
8A Section 8 does not apply to online games other than the following:
(a) sports and event wagering;
(b) digital bingo;
(c) mini games;
(d) digital instant win tickets;
(e) draw-based lottery schemes.
Payment of prizes
9 It is a condition for entitlement to collect any prize that the claimant
(a) satisfy the Lottery Corporation that the claimant is a winner;
(b) make the claim on or before any expiration date marked on the ticket by the
Lottery Corporation;
(c) give the Lottery Corporation the right to publish the name, address,
photograph or picture of the claimant without any claim on the Lottery
Corporation for broadcasting, printing, royalty or other rights; and
(d) if required by the Lottery Corporation or the Corporation, give to the Lottery
Corporation a valid release for the prize and undertake to save the Lottery
Corporation harmless from any further claim on that prize.
More than 1 claimant for same prize
10 Where there is more than 1 claimant for payment of the same prize, the Lottery
Corporation may pay the money into court pending settlement of the dispute by a court of
competent jurisdiction.
Retailer prize payout
10AIf a retailer pays out a prize to a winner, the retailer must pay the winner the full amount of
the prize.
Retailer to report problems to Lottery Corporation
10B A retailer must promptly report the occurrence of any of the following to the Lottery
Corporation:
(a) a suspected defect, suspected abuse, suspected illegality or suspected criminal
activity in relation to a lottery scheme;
(b) a suspected malfunction of or damage to lottery equipment.
Retailer winning over $1000
10C(1) When claiming a prize greater than $1000 as a result of participating in a lottery
scheme as a player, a retailer must inform the entity paying out the prize that they are
a retailer.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a retailer who
(a) is claiming a prize as a result of participating as a player in
(i) an online game, or
(ii) linked bingo; or
(b) operates linked bingo and no other lottery scheme to which these regulations
apply.
Auditing
11 The Lottery Corporation must, when requested to do so by the Auditor General, produce
such books, documents, or financial statements as are necessary to satisfy the Auditor
General that the Lottery Corporation is complying with the provisions of these regulations.
Tickets from Interprovincial Lottery Corporation
12 (1) The Lottery Corporation may acquire tickets from the Interprovincial Lottery
Corporation for sale in the Province by the Lottery Corporation.
(2) Section 8 does not apply to the sale in the Province of tickets acquired pursuant to
subsection (1).
Former Nova Scotia Lottery Commission
13 The rights, obligations and liabilities of the former Nova Scotia Lottery Commission
contained in
(a) an agreement dated August 27, 1976 and approved by Order in Council
76-1006 dated August 31, 1976 as amended, between the former Nova Scotia
Lottery Commission and the Lotteries Commission of New Brunswick, the
Government of the Province of Newfoundland and the Prince Edward Island
Lotteries Commission, as amended from time to time, regarding the Atlantic
Lottery Corporation; and
(b) an agreement dated August 27, 1976 and approved by Order in Council 76-1006 dated August 31, 1976 as amended, between the Government of the
Province of Nova Scotia and the Government of New Brunswick, the
Government of the Province of Newfoundland, and the Government of the
Province of Prince Edward Island, as amended from time to time, regarding
undertaking, conducting and managing lottery schemes in Nova Scotia and the
other named provinces,
are rights, obligations and liabilities of the Corporation or the Department, as the context,
the Act and regulations require.
Special purpose funds or trust funds
14 Through special purpose funds or trust funds created or continued under the Finance Act,
the Corporation may pay the following from the revenue it receives:
(a) to Sport Nova Scotia, $100 000 annually;
(b) to the Cultural Federation of Nova Scotia, $50 000 annually;
(c) to the Exhibition Association of Nova Scotia, $50 000 annually.
Lottery equipment supplier as class of suppliers for registration
15 “Lottery equipment supplier” is established as a class of suppliers for the purposes of
registration as a registered supplier under the Act
Actions limited to registered lottery equipment suppliers
16 Only the following may carry out any of the actions described in the definition of “lottery
equipment supplier” in clause 2(g):
(a) the Lottery Corporation;
(b) the Corporation;
(c) the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation;
(d) a registered lottery equipment supplier.
Designated goods and services
17 For purposes of Part II of the Act, the goods and services described in the definition of
“lottery equipment supplier” are designated goods and services, except when performed by
one of the following:
(a) the Lottery Corporation;
(b) the Corporation;
(c) the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation.
Lottery equipment supplier registration or renewal
18 (1) An application for registration or renewal of registration as a lottery equipment
supplier must be in a form provided by the Director of Registration and must be
accompanied by a fee of $272.45.
(2) A registration granted or renewed under this Section expires 2 years from the date set
out on the certificate of registration.
Lottery equipment
19 (1) The Executive Director may establish technical standards for categories of lottery
equipment.
(2) A registered lottery equipment supplier must not sell or lease lottery equipment
unless
(a) the equipment meets the applicable technical standard for the equipment; or
(b) if no applicable technical standard has been established for the equipment, the
equipment is approved by the Executive Director for use in a lottery scheme.
(3) The Lottery Corporation must not use lottery equipment in a lottery scheme unless
(a) the equipment meets the applicable technical standard for the equipment; or
(b) if no applicable technical standard has been established for the equipment, the
equipment is approved by the Executive Director for use in a lottery scheme.
Notification when selling or leasing lottery equipment
20 (1) A registered lottery equipment supplier must notify the Executive Director at least 2
weeks before they sell or lease a piece of lottery equipment that falls into a category
for which an applicable technical standard is established under Section 19.
(2) A notification under subsection (1) must include all of the following information:
(a) the date the registered lottery equipment supplier intends to sell or lease the
equipment;
(b) the technical standard that applies to the equipment;
(c) a description of the equipment’s features.
(3) On receiving notification under subsection (1), the Executive Director may request
that the registered lottery equipment supplier provide information on any testing
conducted on the equipment by the supplier or on the supplier’s behalf to ensure that
the equipment meets the applicable standard.
Approval of lottery equipment
21 (1) The Executive Director may approve lottery equipment for use in a lottery scheme.
(2) An application from a registered lottery equipment supplier for approval of lottery
equipment must be in the form required by the Executive Director.
(3) The Executive Director may make any inquiries or investigations that the Executive
Director considers appropriate in assessing the lottery equipment and may require
that the reasonable costs of the inquiry or investigation be paid by the supplier.
(4) The Executive Director may impose conditions on an approval of lottery equipment.
(5) A registered equipment supplier must sell or lease lottery equipment only in
accordance with the conditions imposed on an approval for the equipment and the
Lottery Corporation must use lottery equipment only in accordance with conditions
imposed on an approval for the equipment.
(6) All lottery equipment that has been sold or leased to the Lottery Corporation on or
before the date this Section comes into force is deemed to be approved by the
Executive Director.
Supplier to notify Executive Director of problem with lottery equipment
22 A registered lottery equipment supplier who becomes aware of any problem with the
integrity, security or accounting capability of any lottery equipment provided by the
supplier must immediately notify the Executive Director and the Lottery Corporation.
Alterations to lottery equipment
23 The Lottery Corporation must notify the Executive Director no later than 30 days after
making any alteration to lottery equipment used in a lottery scheme.
Lottery scheme standards
24 (1) The Executive Director may establish standards for categories of lottery schemes,
including standards respecting any of the following:
(a) the design of a lottery scheme;
(b) manufacturing, supplying, delivering, installing and maintaining things used in
a lottery scheme;
(c) measures that must be taken to ensure that a lottery scheme is fair, honest,
secure, safe and capable of being audited, including the manner and form for
reporting on those measures to the Executive Director;
(d) measures that must be taken to restrict access to an online game by a person
who is under 19 years old.
(2) The Lottery Corporation must not operate a lottery scheme unless
(a) the lottery scheme meets the applicable standard for the category of lottery
scheme; or
(b) if no applicable standard has been established for the lottery scheme, the lottery
scheme is approved by the Executive Director.
Notifying Executive Director of lottery scheme being introduced
25 (1) The Lottery Corporation must notify the Executive Director at least 2 weeks before
offering a lottery scheme for sale to the public that falls into a category for which an
applicable technical standard has been established under Section 24.
(2) A notification under subsection (1) must include all of the following information:
(a) the date the lottery scheme is to be introduced for sale to the public;
(b) the standard that applies to the lottery scheme;
(c) a description of the lottery scheme that includes the rules of play and the
proposed reward and odds.
(3) On receiving notification under subsection (1), the Executive Director may request
that the Lottery Corporation provide any of the following:
(a) information on any testing conducted on the lottery scheme by the Lottery
Corporation or on the Lottery Corporation’s behalf to ensure that the lottery
scheme meets the applicable standard;
(b) specifications of the physical components of the lottery scheme, including
representative physical components.
Approval of lottery scheme
26 (1) Before introducing a lottery scheme for sale to the public that falls into a category for
which no applicable standard has been established, the Lottery Corporation must
apply to the Executive Director for approval of the lottery scheme.
(2) The Executive Director may make any inquiries or investigations that the Executive
Director considers appropriate in assessing a lottery scheme and may require that the
reasonable costs of the inquiry or investigation be paid by the Lottery Corporation.
(3) The Executive Director may impose conditions on an approval of a lottery scheme
and the Lottery Corporation must operate the lottery scheme in accordance with any
conditions imposed.
(4) All lottery schemes operated by the Lottery Corporation on the date this Section
comes into force are deemed to be approved by the Executive Director.
Notifying Executive Director when removing lottery scheme from sale
27 The Lottery Corporation must immediately notify the Executive Director in writing when
it removes a lottery scheme from sale to the public.
Internal control system for integrity of lottery schemes
28 (1) The Lottery Corporation must implement an internal control system that is designed
to ensure the integrity of lottery schemes and protect players and the public.
(2) An internal control system must provide reasonable assurance of all of the following:
(a) that financial records and reporting will be accurate, reliable and prepared on a
timely basis;
(b) that the potential for error and fraud is minimized;
(c) that tickets will be safeguarded;
(d) that adequate inquiries are made into the character of retailers and prospective
retailers;
(e) that adequate inquiries are made into the character of prospective employees of
the Lottery Corporation;
(f) that the functions, duties and responsibilities of employees of the Lottery
Corporation are appropriately segregated to minimize opportunities for
collusion between employees.
(3) The Lottery Corporation must ensure that its operations are conducted in accordance
with the internal control system.
(3A) The Lottery Corporation must not alter its internal control system without the prior
written approval of the Executive Director.
(4) If required by the Executive Director, the Lottery Corporation must have its internal
control system reviewed by an independent licensed public accountant at its own
expense to ensure that its internal controls comply with the requirements of this
Section.
(5) If a review is required under subsection (4), the Lottery Corporation must submit the
accountant’s report to the Executive Director within the time period specified by the
Executive Director.
(6) The Executive Director may require the Lottery Corporation to make changes to the
internal control system at any time.
(7) The Lottery Corporation must implement all changes to the internal control system
required by the Executive Director within the time period specified by the Executive
Director.
Lottery Corporation reporting to Executive Director
29 (1) When requested by the Executive Director, the Lottery Corporation must provide the
Executive Director with a list of all retailers and their operating locations.
(2) The Lottery Corporation must promptly report all of the following to the Corporation
and the Executive Director:
(a) any defect, abuse, illegality or criminal activity in relation to a lottery scheme;
(b) a win of a prize over $1000 by a retailer, except a retailer referred to in
subsection 10C(2).
The
following regulations are not yet in force and are not included in the current
consolidation: