HB1373: HB1373 Gambling; criminal prohibitions on gambling for coin operated amusement machines; revise certain exceptions

Georgia law generally makes gambling illegal but exempts certain coin operated amusement machines, like classic arcade games, that only reward players with free replays or small noncash prizes. This bill adds a new category to the definition of 'gambling device' in Georgia's gambling law (O.C.G.A. § 16-12-20): any video machine, operated for payment, that lets someone play poker, blackjack, any other card game, or keno, including games that use symbols or pictures instead of actual cards. The bill then updates the amusement machine exemptions in O.C.G.A. § 16-12-35 so that this new category of card and keno video machines cannot qualify for the 'bona fide amusement' exceptions that currently let some skill based coin machines legally pay out free replays, small prizes, or vouchers. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not include a separate effective date section, so it would take effect under Georgia's standard rules once signed.

• Adds a new type of 'gambling device' to Georgia law: any coin operated video machine for playing poker, blackjack, other card games, or keno, including simulated versions using symbols instead of cards.
• Declares that this new category of video card and keno machines is a prohibited gambling device regardless of any other law suggesting otherwise.
• Rewrites the amusement machine exemption in O.C.G.A. § 16-12-35(b) so it no longer covers these video poker, blackjack, card, or keno machines.
• Rewrites a second exemption in O.C.G.A. § 16-12-35(d)(1) (covering machines that pay out free replays, small prizes, or vouchers) so it also excludes these same card and keno video machines.
• Repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with these changes.

Owners and operators of coin operated amusement machines, including bars, convenience stores, and arcades that host video game terminals; manufacturers and distributors of video poker, blackjack, card, and keno machines; and law enforcement and prosecutors who apply Georgia's gambling statutes.

Businesses that currently operate coin machines simulating poker, blackjack, other card games, or keno under the amusement game exemption could lose that legal cover, since those specific machines would now be explicitly defined as prohibited gambling devices rather than legal amusement games.

• Section 1 amends the definitions section (O.C.G.A. § 16-12-20) by adding subparagraph (D), defining video machines for poker, blackjack, other card games, or keno as gambling devices.
• Section 1 states that any device meeting the (B), (C), or (D) gambling device definitions is prohibited under this part of Georgia law regardless of conflicting language elsewhere in state law.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 16-12-35(b) so the amusement machine exemption does not apply to machines described in the new subparagraph (D).
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 16-12-35(d)(1) so the exemption for machines paying out free replays, small prizes, or vouchers also excludes subparagraph (D) devices.
• Section 3 repeals any Georgia laws that conflict with the bill's changes.

1. 2026-02-20House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-19House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-18House Hopper (House)

• 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 amusement machines
• video poker machines
• criminal law