HB 1373: Gambling; criminal prohibitions on gambling for coin operated amusement machines; revise certain exceptions

Georgia law currently defines several types of gambling devices as illegal, including coin operated video game machines built for playing poker, blackjack, other card games, or keno. This bill deletes that specific category, known as subparagraph (D), from the definition of a 'gambling device' in Georgia's gambling code (O.C.G.A. § 16-12-20). Because the law's amusement machine exceptions (O.C.G.A. § 16-12-35) currently exclude any machine described in that deleted subparagraph (D), removing it means those poker, blackjack, card game, and keno machines are no longer automatically excluded from the legal amusement game exceptions. The bill also makes matching conforming edits to the definitions section and the applicability section so the cross references still line up after subparagraph (D) is removed. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not list a special effective date, so it would take effect under Georgia's standard rules once signed.

• Deletes subparagraph (D) from the definition of 'gambling device' in O.C.G.A. § 16-12-20, which currently covers coin operated video machines for poker, blackjack, other card games, or keno.
• Removes references to that deleted subparagraph (D) from the amusement machine exceptions in O.C.G.A. § 16-12-35(b), which lists devices excluded from the amusement game exemption.
• Removes the same subparagraph (D) reference from O.C.G.A. § 16-12-35(d)(1), which covers machines that reward players only with free replays, low value merchandise, or exchangeable tokens.
• Repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with these changes.

Coin operated amusement machine manufacturers and operators, bars, convenience stores, and other businesses that host these machines, and state and local law enforcement or regulators who currently classify certain poker, blackjack, card, and keno machines as illegal gambling devices.

By removing this category of machines from the definition of illegal gambling devices, the bill could open the door for coin operated poker, blackjack, card game, or keno machines to be treated as legal amusement games in Georgia, changing what businesses can legally offer and what law enforcement can prosecute as illegal gambling.

• Section 1 revises the definition of 'gambling device' in O.C.G.A. § 16-12-20 by deleting subparagraph (D), which had covered video game machines for poker, blackjack, other card games, or keno.
• Section 1 keeps subparagraphs (B) and (C), covering slot machines and matchup or lineup games, as prohibited gambling devices.
• Section 2 updates O.C.G.A. § 16-12-35(b) so the amusement game exception no longer excludes machines described in the deleted subparagraph (D).
• Section 2 makes the same conforming change to O.C.G.A. § 16-12-35(d)(1), which lists rewards, such as free replays or low value merchandise, that keep an amusement machine legal.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting state laws.

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• Jordan Ridley (R, HD-022)Primary sponsor
• Jason Ridley (R, HD-006)
• Mitchell Horner (R, HD-003)
• Demetrius Douglas (D, HD-078)

• gambling law
• coin operated machines
• video poker
• gaming regulation