Q. In Ontario, the law requires an organization to have a lottery license to run a lottery.
Q1. Is it Mutar for a Moisad to run a lottery without getting a lottery license?
Q2. May one purchase a ticket in a lottery if the Moisad has no lottery license?
Thank you, IM.
A When a charitable organization is required either by Municipal or Provincial Code to register and acquire a license in order to conduct a lottery, Halacha dictates that they have to comply. The above follows from the edict of Shmuel, namely; Dina D'malchusa Dina, or the law of the land is law. (Nedarim 28a, Gittin 10b, Bava Kama 113b, Bava Batra 54b, Rema in Choshen Mishpat 369, 8.)
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit"a opinion is that a ticket purchaser does not need to inquire if the institution obtained a license. Moreover, even if he suspects that they may not be licensed, he may still purchase a ticket.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
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