Regulatory Framework

Competition Bureau Guidelines & Criminal Code

Promotional contests in Canada are primarily governed by the Competition Act and associated Competition Bureau guidelines. The Criminal Code also sets boundaries — specifically, contests must not require purchase to enter, or must make entry free to avoid constituting an illegal lottery.

Competition Act
Section 74.06 of the Competition Act regulates promotional contests. Promoters must clearly disclose the number and value of prizes, the odds of winning, and any regional distribution of prizes.
Criminal Code — Skill Testing Question
To exempt a draw from gambling classification under the Criminal Code, winners must answer a mathematical skill-testing question (STQ) correctly before receiving their prize.
PIPEDA / Law 25
Collection of entrant personal information is governed by PIPEDA federally and Bill 64 / Law 25 in Quebec. A valid privacy notice must be provided at the point of entry.
Organiser Obligations

What Canadian Promotion Organisers Must Do

Organisers running promotional contests in Canada must comply with the Competition Act and applicable provincial laws. CertifiedDraw's role is limited to certifying the draw outcome — all legal and regulatory obligations remain with the organiser.

Published Contest Rules
Full contest rules must be published and accessible before the promotion opens, including prize details, eligibility, odds, and the method of selection.
Free Entry Route
A free means of entry (e.g., mail-in entry) must be available with equal prominence to any paid entry route to avoid lottery classification.
Skill Testing Question
Before awarding prizes, winners must successfully complete a mathematical skill-testing question — a unique Canadian legal requirement.
Quebec Régie des alcools
For contests open to Quebec residents where total prize value exceeds $2,000, prior permit approval from the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ) may be required.
Bilingual Disclosure
Contests open to Quebec residents must comply with the Charter of the French Language (Bill 96) — contest rules and communications must be available in French.
CertifiedDraw's Role

What We Certify

CertifiedDraw provides independent, tamper-evident draw certification that supports your compliance obligations under the Competition Act — demonstrating that winner selection was conducted fairly and transparently.

Randomisation Certificate
Our certificates document the draw method, entrant pool, timestamp, and winner selection — providing an auditable record for Competition Bureau inquiries.
Public Verifiability
Entrants and regulators can independently verify any draw outcome using our public certificate lookup.
Audit Trail for Disputes
If a draw result is challenged, CertifiedDraw provides a full audit pack supporting the organiser in any Competition Bureau review or civil dispute.
Our Objective

Transparent Draws. Trusted Results.

Independent
Neutral
Verifiable