Compliance & Licensing
About Skill Gaming
With the passage of Georgia’s new lottery COAM law, signed into effect by former Governor Nathan Deal on April 10th 2013, it is now possible to operate skill gaming machines in licensed establishments across this state. A skill gaming machine is a type of coin-operated amusement device that allows players to accrue points on the machines and carry over any won during one play.
The Georgia Lottery Corporation (GLC) has been given the responsibility to regulate all skill gaming machines in their state with this new law. This will ensure that such games are operated within legal confines and not exploiting any grey area or loopholes for fraudulent activity.
A Class A license is for COAMs that you cannot carry points over to another game. Examples are kiddie rides, skeeball, claw machines, pinball games, arcade games and jukeboxes.
Class B COAMs are popular among patrons because they can redeem their winnings at any of the establishments in which it was won. Winners are not able to receive cash nor purchase alcohol, cigarettes, or firearms with these types of drawings – but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything worth playing for!
COAMs are a great way to provide skill-based entertainment for your patrons while increasing your profits and attracting customers. If you have any questions about how they work or what kind of gaming system will best suit the needs of your establishment, don’t hesitate in getting in touch!
Profits from Class B COAM are split between the Master License Holder (MLH), Location License Holder (LLH), and the GLC.
Visit our Registration Process page for all the information you need to get started!
If you have any questions please reach out to our team at 470-831-0697.
GA Lottery Documents
Location License Holder Guide – This document outlines everything a Location License Holder needs to know.
Gaming Terms
COAM
Coin Operated Amusement Machine. Every machine of any kind or character used by the public to provide amusement or entertainment whose operation requires the payment of or the insertion of a coin, bill, other money, token, ticket, card, or similar object and the result of whose operation depends in whole or in part upon the skill of the player, whether or not it affords an award to a successful player.
Class A Machine
A bona fide coin operated amusement machine that is not a Class B machine, does not allow a successful player to carry over points won on one play to a subsequent play or plays, and (A) provides no reward to a successful player, (B) rewards a successful player only with free replays or additional time to play, (C) rewards a successful player with noncash merchandise, prizes, toys, gift certificates, or novelties.
Class B Machine
A bona fide coin operated amusement machine that allows a successful player to accrue points on the machine and carry over points won on one play to a subsequent play or plays and (A) rewards a successful player in compliance with the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (d) of Code Section 16-12-35 and (B) does not reward a successful player with any item prohibited as a reward in subsection (i) of Code Section 16-12-35.
Coin
Any object, including, but not limited to, such things as a coin, paper bill, ticket, token or other monetary substitute, which is necessary for the operation of a Coin Operated Amusement Machine.
Master License
The certificate which every Owner of a bona fide coin operated amusement machine must purchase and display in the Owner’s or Operator’s place of business, where the machine is located for commercial use by the public for play in order to legally operate the machine in the state.
Location License
Means the initial and annually renewed license which every business Location Owner or business Location Operator must purchase and display in the location where one or more bona fide coin operated amusement machines are available for commercial use by the public for play in order to operate legally any such machine in this state.
Owner
Any person, individual, firm, company, association, corporation, or other business entity owning any bona fide coin operated amusement machine in this state.
Gross Retail Receipts
The total revenue derived by a business at any one business location from the sale of goods and services and the commission earned at any one business location on the sale of goods and services but shall not include revenue from the sale of goods or services for which the business will receive only a commission. Revenue from the sale of goods and services at wholesale shall not be included.
