The more research you do on preparing for Class B COAMs in your establishment, the more likely you are to come across terms and acronyms that you may not be familiar with.
Class A machine: A bona fide coin operated amusement machine that is not a Class B machine and does not allow a successful player to carry over points won on one play to a subsequent play or plays. It provides no reward to a successful player, and it rewards a successful player only with free replays or additional time to play. It rewards a successful play with noncash merchandise, prizes, toys, gift certificates or novelties. Some examples of Class A COAMS are kiddie rides, skeeball, claw machines, pinball games, pool tables, jukeboxes and similar machines. They do not allow points to carry over to subsequent play.
Class B machine: An electronic machine that is used by the public to provide amusement or entertainment. It requires payment by the use of a coin, bill, token, ticket, card or similar object, and the results depend on the skill of a player, including video lineup/matchup or similar machines. They allow points to accrue or carry over to subsequent plays. Players must utilize their own skill level (e.g., hitting the raise button) to win.
Coin operated amusement machine (COAM): A machine that is used by the public to provide amusement or entertainment. It requires payment by the use of a coin, bill, token, ticket, card or similar object, and the results depend on the skill of a player, whether or not it affords an award to a successful player. There are two classifications of COAMs — Class A machines and Class B machines — which are defined by Georgia statute. Customers who play Class B machines may only redeem credits for in-store merchandise, fuel or lottery tickets.
Georgia Lottery Corporation: Effective as of April 10, 2013, the Georgia Lottery Corporation statutorily assumed the regulatory duties of compliance and enforcement of Class A and Class B COAMs in Georgia.
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. This does not include the revenue from the sale of goods and services for which the business will receive only commission. Revenue from the sale of goods and services at wholesale shall not be included.
Location License Holder: The owner or operator of a business where one or more COAMs are available to play by the public. Any location that allows COAMs to be placed in the location and made available to the public for play must hold a valid COAM Location License issued by the Georgia Lottery Corporation.
Master License Holder: A Master License Holder is the owner of COAMs placed in a business and made available to the public for play. Any owner of a COAM that places machines in an owner or operator’s place of business and made available to the public for play must hold a valid COAM Master License issued by the Georgia Lottery Corporation.
