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HB 903GEORGIASession 2025_26State Billdead

Did Not Advance

Georgia House Bill 903 Updates Rules and Penalties for Coin-Operated Amusement Machines

Original title: Georgia Administrative Procedure Act shall apply to all executive branch agencies; provide

Last action · March 25, 2026: Senate Read Second TimeSponsors: Alan Powell and 5 others

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What This Bill Proposed

Georgia House Bill 903 revises regulations for coin-operated amusement machines by authorizing certain billiards and darts tournaments, setting prize and redemption limits, establishing for violations, and directing legal appeals to the Metro Atlanta Business Case Division of the Superior Court of Fulton County.

Why it matters

Location owners, master licensees, and manufacturers face new restrictions on machine proceeds, updated noncash redemption limits, and standardized progressive penalties for regulatory violations.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Location Owners and Operators

Location owners and operators face new restrictions on tournament prizes, redemption options, dispute certification requirements, and progressive disciplinary penalties.

Directly affected

Master Licensees

Master licensees are subject to specific fines for unauthorized permit sticker or license certificate use and must participate in dispute resolution certifications before moving machines.

Directly affected

Manufacturers and Distributors

Manufacturers and distributors are prohibited from receiving proceeds from machine play unless they hold a separate master license.

Key Facts

Class A machine noncash redemption awards per play are capped at a wholesale value of $50.00 for direct prizes or $2.00 for gift cards or external redemptions.
Location owners and operators are authorized to conduct billiards or darts tournaments on premises using permitted machines or noncoin devices, with prizes limited to gift cards or noncash redemption.
Manufacturers and distributors cannot receive proceeds from the play of Class A or Class B machines unless they also hold a master license.
Starting July 1, 2026, legal redemption forms are restricted to replays and nonreloadable or reloadable gift cards for Class A machines, and replays, lottery products, and gift cards for Class B machines.

Show all 9 facts

The Georgia Lottery Corporation, in conjunction with the advisory board, must undertake a study and submit written recommendations to the General Assembly by July 1, 2027.
Disciplinary measures for violations follow a progressive structure: a warning for the first offense, a fine for the second, suspension and fine for the third, and suspension, revocation, fine, or combination for subsequent offenses.
Appeals from decisions of the corporation or chief executive officer must be brought to the Metro Atlanta Business Case Division of the Superior Court of Fulton County.
Unauthorized use of per machine permit stickers incurs a $1,000 fine per use, and improper use of a master license certificate incurs a $25,000 fine.
Removing or replacing a Class A or Class B machine requires the master licensee and location owner to certify that no disputes exist regarding agreements or distribution of funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What prizes are allowed for billiards and darts tournaments under this bill?

Prizes are limited to gift cards or other forms of noncash redemption.

Where are appeals from the corporation's decisions directed?

Appeals are directed to the Metro Atlanta Business Case Division of the Superior Court of Fulton County.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the House · in Senate committee.

Procedural history

9 actions

Mar 25, 2026SenateCommittee
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
Mar 25, 2026Senate
Senate Read Second Time
Feb 12, 2026SenateIntroduced
Senate Read and Referred
Feb 11, 2026House
House Third Readers
Feb 11, 2026HouseFloor
House Passed/Adopted
Jan 29, 2026HouseCommittee
House Committee Favorably Reported

Show 3 earlier actions

Jan 12, 2026House
House Second Readers
Apr 4, 2025HouseIntroduced
House First Readers
Apr 2, 2025HouseIntroduced
House Hopper

Version history & redline

2 versions on file

Comparing LC 28 0697/a → Sen Ctee Sub LC 28 0756S

removed addedOfficial text

25 26 LC 28 0697 House Bill 903 By: Representatives Powell of the 33rd , Werkheiser of the 157 th , Tarvin of the 2 nd , Jasperse of the 11th , and McDonald III of 0756S The Senate Committee on Judiciary offered the 26 th following substitute to HB 903: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 13 27 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding administrative procedure, the "Georgia Lottery for Education Act," so as to authorize certain billiards and darts tournaments and the prizes therefor; to clarify the definition of what constitutes a bona fide coin operated amusement machine and a Class A machine; to provide limitations on who may receive proceeds from the play of bona fide coin operated amusement machines; to provide for definitions; to provide for the promulgation of certain rules and regulations; to provide that progressive discipline shall be used to sanction violations; to require the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act" Georgia Lottery Corporation to provide certain data; to provide that appeals from the decision of a hearing officer of the corporation shall apply be to all executive branch agencies; the Metro Atlanta Business Case Division of the Superior Court of Fulton County; to provide for the resolution of certain exceptions; disputes between master licensees and location owners or location operators; to revise a definition; provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. Article 1 of Chapter 13 27 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding administrative procedure, the "Georgia Lottery for Education Act," is amended in Code Section 50-27-70, relating to legislative findings and definitions, by revising subparagraph (b)(2)(A) and paragraph (3) of subsection (b) as follows: "(A) 'Bona fide coin operated amusement machine' means 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 pursuant to subsections (b) through (g) of Code Section 16-12-35, and which can be legally shipped interstate according to federal law and notwithstanding the fact that the machine may be used for other functions or operations unrelated to such amusement or entertainment purposes. Examples of bona fide coin operated amusement machines include, but are expressly not limited to, the following: (i) Pinball machines; (ii) Console machines; (iii) Video games; (iv) Crane machines; (v) Claw machines; (vi) Pusher machines; (vii) Bowling machines; (viii) Novelty arcade games; (ix) Foosball or table soccer machines; (x) Miniature racetrack, football, or golf machines; (xi) Target or shooting gallery machines; (xii) Basketball machines; (xiii) Shuffleboard games; (xiv) Kiddie ride games; (xv) Skeeball machines; (xvi) Air hockey machines; (xvii) Roll down machines; (xviii) Trivia machines; (xix) Laser games; (xx) Simulator games; (xxi) Virtual reality machines; (xxii) Maze games; (xxiii) Racing games; (xxiv) Coin operated pool tables or coin operated billiard tables as defined in paragraph (3) of Code Section 43-8-1; and (xxv) Any other similar amusement machine which can be legally operated in Georgia. The term also means a machine of any kind or character used by the public to provide music whose operation requires the payment of or the insertion of a coin, bill, other money, token, ticket, card, or similar object such as jukeboxes or other similar types of music machines." "(3) 'Class A machine' means 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 in compliance with the provisions of subsection (c) or paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of Code Section 50-13-2, 16-12-35, and does not reward a successful player with any item prohibited as a reward in subsection (i) of Code Section 16-12-35 or any reward redeemable as an item prohibited as a reward in subsection (i) of Code Section 16-12-35; (D) Rewards a successful player with points, tokens, tickets, or other evidence of winnings that may be exchanged only for items listed in subparagraph (C) of this paragraph; or (E) Rewards a successful player with any combination of items listed in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of this paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of Code Section 16-12-35 or any other Code section to the contrary, the permitted noncash redemption award per play for a Class A machine shall not exceed a wholesale value of $50.00 if the redemption is for a prize, toy, or novelty that can be redeemed directly from such machine. If a machine rewards players with reloadable or nonreloadable gift cards pursuant to Code Section 50-27-71.1 directly from such machine or rewards players with tickets or other evidence of winning which can be redeemed for reloadable or nonreloadable gift cards or which may be otherwise redeemed for any approved redemption external to such machine, the permitted noncash redemption award per play shall not exceed a wholesale value of $2.00 per play of such machine. Any coin operated amusement machine that provides redemptions that are not in accordance with this paragraph shall be designated as a Class B machine and shall be subject to all requirements of Class B machines set forth in this article." SECTION 2. Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 50-27-71, relating to definitions, license fees, issuance of license, display of license, control number, duplicate certificates, application for license or renewal, and penalty for noncompliance, by adding new subsections to read as follows: "(1) 'Agency' means, unless otherwise required by federal law, each state board, bureau, commission, department, activity, "(p)(1) As used in this subsection, the term: (A) 'Billiards' shall have the same meaning set forth in paragraph (3) of Code Section 43-8-1. (B) 'Darts' means any one of the games played with two or officer more players who, using their bare hands, throw small sharp pointed missiles which are known as darts at a target which is known as a dartboard to accumulate points. (2) A location owner or a location operator shall be authorized to conduct billiards or darts tournaments on the premises for which such licensee has a contract for the installation of bona fide coin operated amusement machines. Such tournaments may be conducted on bona fide coin operated amusement machines or noncoin operated devices. The licensee may award prizes to the executive branch winners of state government authorized by law expressly such tournaments, but such prizes shall be limited to gift cards or other forms of noncash redemption. No other licensee shall participate in the organization or conducting of such billiards or darts tournaments nor shall any other licensee make contributions to or finance, in whole or in part, such billiards or darts tournaments. (3) The corporation shall be authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this subsection. (q) No person holding a manufacturer's license or distributor's license shall receive any proceeds from the play of Class A or Class B bona fide coin operated amusement machines unless such person also holds a master license. With the exception of the corporation, only persons holding a master license, an employee of such master license holder, a location owner, or a location operator may receive proceeds from the play of such machines." SECTION 3. Said chapter is further amended by revising paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 50-27-71.1, relating to determine contested cases, except. Such term gift cards and redemption, and adding a new subsection to read as follows: "(2) On and after July 1, 2026: (A) Only replays and nonreloadable and reloadable gift cards shall specifically be allowed as a legal form of redemption for Class A machines in addition to any other form of redemption allowed by law or authorized by the corporation; and (B) Only replays, lottery products, and nonreloadable and reloadable gift cards shall be allowed as a legal form of redemption for Class B machines and no other form of redemption shall be allowed. Any location owner or location operator that provides for the redemption of products or services, other than replays and lottery products, that are not on a gift card shall, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, receive a warning for the first violation and shall be punished by civil penalties for any subsequent violations that shall be imposed by the corporation in amounts that are proportional to any amounts inappropriately redeemed; provided, however, that nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to eliminate or reduce any administrative penalty related to a violation of Code Section 16-12-35. Discipline shall be progressive in nature to include a warning on the General Assembly; first offense; a fine on the second offense; a suspension and fine on the third offense; and a suspension, revocation, fine, or combination thereof on the judiciary; fourth and subsequent offenses. All violations considered in one enforcement action shall constitute a single violation for the Governor; purpose of assessing disciplinary penalties." "(e) Not later than July 1, 2027, the State corporation in conjunction with and in cooperation with the Bona Fide Coin Operated Amusement Machine Operator Advisory Board shall undertake a study of Pardons and Paroles; make written recommendations to the State Financing General Assembly on the following subject matters: (1) The number and Investment Commission; amounts of each form of lottery product issued as noncash redemption for successful plays of bona fide coin operated amusement machines; (2) The number and amounts of gift cards and replays redeemed for successful plays of bona fide coin operated amusement machines; (3) The nature and amount of tampering with bona fide coin operated amusement machines by location licensees and other third parties; and (4) The number and amounts of unredeemed winnings for successful plays of bona fide coin operated amusement machines." SECTION 4. Said chapter is further amended by revising subsection (c) of Code Section 50-27-73, relating to refusal to issue or renew license, revocation or suspension, hearing, and limitation on issuance of licenses, as follows: "(c)(1) The corporation may refuse to issue or renew a manufacturer, distributor, or master license or may revoke or suspend a manufacturer, distributor, or master license issued under this chapter if: (1)(A) The licensee or applicant has intentionally violated a provision of this chapter or a regulation promulgated under this chapter; (2)(B) The licensee or applicant has intentionally failed to provide requested information or answer a question, intentionally made a false statement in or in connection with his or her application or renewal, or omitted any material or requested information; (3)(C) The licensee or applicant used coercion to accomplish a purpose or to engage in conduct regulated by the State Properties Commission; corporation; (4)(D) A master licensee or applicant allows the Board use of Bar Examiners; its master license certificate or per machine permit stickers by any other business entity or person that owns or operates bona fide coin operated amusement machines available for commercial use and available to the Board public for play. If such unauthorized use occurs, the corporation may fine the licensee as follows: (A)(i) One thousand dollars for each improper use of Corrections a per machine permit sticker; and its penal institutions; (B)(ii) Twenty-five thousand dollars for each improper use of a master license certificate. In addition, the State Board corporation is authorized to seize the machines in question and assess the master license and permit fees as required by law and to assess the costs of Workers' Compensation;. Such term such seizure to the owner or operator of the machines; (5)(E) Failure to suspend or revoke the license would be contrary to the intent and purpose of this article; (6)(F) The licensee or applicant has engaged in unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices as provided in Code Section 50-27-87.1; or (7)(G) Any applicant, or any person, firm, corporation, legal entity, or organization having any interest in any operation for which an application has been submitted, fails to meet any obligations imposed by the tax laws or other laws or regulations of this state. (2) Except as provided in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1) of this subsection, discipline shall be progressive in nature to include a warning on the first offense; a fine on the second offense; a suspension and fine on the third offense; and a suspension, revocation, fine, or combination thereof on the fourth and subsequent offenses. All violations considered in one enforcement action shall constitute a single violation for the purpose of assessing disciplinary penalties." SECTION 5. Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 50-27-76, relating to judicial review of action by corporation or chief executive officer, as follows: "50-27-76. (a) Appeal by an affected person from all public authorities except actions of the corporation or chief executive officer shall be to the Metro Atlanta Business Case Division of the Superior Court of Fulton County. The review shall be conducted by the court and shall be confined to the record. (b) The court shall not substitute its judgment for that of the corporation or chief executive officer as otherwise expressly provided to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact committed to the discretion of the corporation or chief executive officer. The court may affirm the decision of the corporation or chief executive officer in whole or in part; the court shall reverse or remand the case for further proceedings if substantial rights of the appellant have been prejudiced because the corporation's or chief executive officer's findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions are: (1) In violation of constitutional or statutory provisions; (2) In excess of the statutory authority of the corporation or chief executive officer; (3) Made upon unlawful procedures; (4) Affected by other error of law; (5) Not reasonably supported by substantial evidence in view of the State Personnel Board; reliable and probative evidence in the Department record as a whole; or (6) Arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of Administrative Services discretion or commissioner clearly unwarranted exercise of administrative services; the Board discretion." SECTION 6. Said chapter is further amended by revising subsection (c) of Regents Code Section 50-27-81, relating to administration of article, as follows: "(c) The chief executive officer may shall delegate to an authorized representative any hearing officer the University System authority given to the chief executive officer by this article, including the conduct of Georgia; investigations, imposing of fees and fines, and the Technical College System holding of Georgia; hearings." SECTION 7. Said chapter is further amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 50-27-82, relating to criminal violations, investigations, seizure and confiscation of machines, repossession, and sealing of machines, as follows: "(a) If any owner or operator of any bona fide coin operated amusement machine in this state shall violate any provision of this article or any rule and regulation promulgated under this article, the Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission; corporation may investigate the Department violation and may seek sanctions, including late fees of Labor when conducting hearings related $50.00 for failure to unemployment benefits pay timely permit sticker fees, $125.00 for failure to pay timely the master license fee, suspension or overpayments revocation of unemployment benefits; a license, seizure of equipment, interest penalty, and debarment for repeat offenders. Discipline shall be progressive in nature to include a warning on the Department first offense; a fine on the second offense; a suspension and fine on the third offense; and a suspension, revocation, fine, or combination thereof on the fourth and subsequent offenses. All violations considered in one enforcement action shall constitute a single violation for the purpose of Revenue when conducting hearings assessing disciplinary penalties." SECTION 8. Said chapter is further amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 50-27-85, relating to alcoholic beverages, tobacco, penalties for violations by location owners or operators, as follows: "(a)(1) Except as specifically provided in this article, for single or repeated violations of this article by a location owner or location operator who offers one or more bona fide coin operated amusement machines for play by the public, the corporation may impose the following penalties on such a location owner or any location operator: (1)(A) A civil fine in an amount specified in rules and regulations promulgated in accordance with this article; or (2)(B) For a third or subsequent offense, a suspension or revocation of the privilege of offering one or more bona fide coin operated amusement machines for play by the public. (2) Discipline shall be progressive in nature to include a warning on the first offense; a fine on the second offense; a suspension and fine on the third offense; and a suspension, revocation, fine, or combination thereof on the fourth and subsequent offenses. All violations considered in one enforcement action shall constitute a single violation for the purpose of assessing disciplinary penalties." SECTION 9. Said chapter is further amended by revising paragraphs (1) and (5) of subsection (c) of Code Section 50-27-102, relating thereto; to role of corporation, implementation and certification, separation of funds and accounting, and disputes, as follows: "(c)(1) As a condition of the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan; license issued pursuant to this article, no master licensee or location owner or location operator shall replace or remove a Class A machine or Class B machine from a location until the Georgia ABLE Program Corporation; master licensee and location owner or location operator certify to the corporation that there are no disputes regarding any school, college, hospital, agreement, distribution of funds, or other such educational, eleemosynary, or charitable institution; claim between the master licensee and location owner or any agency when its action location operator; provided, however, that this certification shall not be required if a master licensee is concerned with replacing its own Class A machine or Class B machine at a location. If either the military master licensee or naval affairs of location owner or location operator is unable to make the certification required by this state. Such term Code section, the corporation shall also include refer the State Board of Education and Department dispute to a hearing officer as set forth in this subsection. If a master licensee certifies that there is a dispute with a location owner or location operator, which certification causes the continued generation of Education, revenue from the master licensee's Class A or Class B machine subject to the following qualifications: (A) Subject alleged dispute pending a decision on the dispute, and, after the hearing officer's or court's determination, the location owner or location operator is the prevailing party and the hearing officer or court finds that the action was brought by the master licensee without substantial justification or was brought for delay or harassment, the hearing officer or court shall, in addition to any other remedy provided for in this article, order that any revenues received by or due to the limitations master licensee as a result of subparagraph (B) the master licensee's certification of this paragraph, all otherwise valid rules adopted the dispute shall not be kept by the State Board of Education master licensee but shall be paid to the corporation and Department the hearing officer or court shall also award the costs of Education prior the proceeding and attorney fees to January 1, 1990, are ratified the location owner or location operator and validated against the master licensee. However, if, after the hearing officer's or court's determination, the master licensee is the prevailing party and the hearing officer or court finds that the action was defended by the location owner or location operator without substantial justification or was defended for delay or harassment, the hearing officer or court shall, in addition to any other remedy provided for in this article, order that any revenues received by or due to the location owner or location operator as a result of the master licensee's certification of the dispute shall not be effective until January 1, 1991, whether kept by the location owner or not such rules were adopted in compliance with location operator but shall be paid to the requirements corporation and the hearing officer or court shall also award the costs of the proceeding and attorney fees to the master licensee and against the location owner or location operator. As used in this chapter; paragraph, the term 'without substantial justification' means substantially frivolous, substantially groundless, or substantially vexatious. Applicants for licenses shall submit all disputes against existing or previous licensees under this article, including master licensees, location owners, location operators, manufacturers, and (B) Effective January 1, 1991, any rule distributors, to a hearing officer under this paragraph." "(5) The decision of the State Board hearing officer may be appealed to the chief executive officer or his or her designee Metro Atlanta Business Case Division of Education the Superior Court of Fulton County. The chief executive officer court shall not reverse a finding of fact of the hearing officer if any evidence supports the hearing officer's conclusion. The chief executive officer court shall not reverse a conclusion of law of the hearing officer unless it was clearly erroneous, arbitrary, and capricious or Department exceeded the hearing officer's jurisdiction. The decision of Education the chief executive officer may be appealed to the Superior Court of Fulton County, which has court shall not been proposed, submitted, and adopted in accordance with reverse the requirements chief executive officer's findings of this chapter fact unless it is against the weight of the evidence as set forth in Code Section 5-5-21, and the chief executive officer's legal conclusions shall not be void and set aside unless there is an error of no effect." law." SECTION 2. 10. This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval. SECTION 11. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

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Connected Entities

Georgia Lottery Corporation, General Assembly of Georgia, Metro Atlanta Business Case Division of the Superior Court of Fulton County and 1 more

OrganizationGeorgia Lottery Corporation“Corporation administering amusement machine rules”Map →

OrganizationGeneral Assembly of Georgia“Legislative body enacting the bill”Map →

OrganizationMetro Atlanta Business Case Division of the Superior Court of Fulton County“Designated court division for hearing appeals”Map →

OrganizationBona Fide Coin Operated Amusement Machine Operator Advisory Board“Advisory board collaborating on a study by July 1, 2027”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.legis.ga.gov

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