COAM machines for Georgia bars and restaurants

Most Georgia bars and restaurants can host up to nine Class B coin-operated amusement machines (COAMs), licensed through the Georgia Lottery. Your city's rules and your alcohol license both matter, so check them first.

Some people call these video poker or slot machines. Under Georgia law they're neither. In Georgia, the legal ones are Class B COAMs regulated by the Georgia Lottery, and cash payouts are illegal. (O.C.G.A. § 50-27-70)

Illustration of an example curved-screen Class B cabinet with a game selection menu — Illustration of example Class B cabinets. COAM Placement doesn't make, own or operate machines. Georgia prizes are non-cash: gift cards, lottery products or replays.

Illustration of two example Class B cabinets mounted back to back on a shared base — Illustration of example Class B cabinets. COAM Placement doesn't make, own or operate machines. Georgia prizes are non-cash: gift cards, lottery products or replays.

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Last reviewed: November 5, 2026

Can my bar or restaurant have COAMs?

Georgia allows up to nine Class B machines per location (GLC). Some cities set a lower cap: Savannah, Powder Springs, Lilburn and Perry allow six. Your business needs a Class B location license from the Georgia Lottery Corporation, and the machines must come from a licensed master licensee.

Example setup

Small c-storeBar or restaurantLarger venue

Your city

6 of 9 in this example

Up to 9 allowed here

Source

An example, not a typical count or a recommendation. Your number depends on your city, your space and the 50% rule. Cabinets are illustrations. COAM Placement doesn't make, own or operate machines.

What COAM machines look like

Illustrations of example cabinets, not a specific venue, city or operator's install. COAM Placement doesn't make, own or operate machines. Georgia prizes are non-cash: gift cards, lottery products or replays, whatever a screen shows.

Illustration: example Class B cabinet with a curved screen and a game menu
Illustration: example Class B cabinets, side by side
Illustration: example Class B cabinets, back to back on one base
Illustration: example slim Class B cabinet for a tighter floor
Illustration: example bank of three Class B cabinets
Illustration: an example game room layout

Your alcohol license and COAMs

Your alcohol license and your COAM location license are separate, but they're connected.

Georgia law lets local governments suspend or revoke an alcohol license for certain COAM violations (O.C.G.A. § 50-27-86).
The Georgia Supreme Court has held that a city can't flatly ban alcohol licensees from allowing COAMs (Gebrekidan v. City of Clarkston, 2016).
Some local alcohol codes still contain their own machine rules. Examples include Floyd County, Thomasville and Dalton, which has rules for package liquor stores.

That's why we check your local alcohol ordinance before anything else. If a machine could put your liquor license at risk, you should know before you sign.

The 50% rule

A sketch of the test, not a real location.

Your share of machine revenue can't be more than 50% of the location's quarterly gross retail receipts. (O.C.G.A. § 50-27-84, GLC notice) See the 50% rule, explained. For a bar or restaurant, your food and drink sales are what keep you on the right side of that line. A slow month for the kitchen matters, so the operator should help you watch it.

Local requirements to check

6The machine cap in Savannah, Powder Springs, Lilburn and Perry.

Depending on where you are, you may also need:

A city or county COAM license or business tax certificate.
To meet distance rules tied to schools, churches or alcohol rules.
To keep machines in plain view.
An attendant aged 18 or older on site.

Savannah, Conyers and Lawrenceville are good examples of how these rules differ. Atlanta has no lower cap that we found, but other city rules can still matter: see Atlanta's rules.

Local COAM rules

Planning the room

Machines need floor space, dedicated power and a spot your staff can see from the bar or register. Think about seating, how players reach the counter to redeem, and where the required signage goes. The operator will walk the room with you.

A simple planning sketch, not a required layout.

Sketch your room in the machine planner

Redemption and staff training

Since July 1, 2026, Class B prizes are limited to replays, Georgia Lottery products and gift cards (GLC notice). Cash is never allowed. Your staff will handle redemption at the register, so they need to know the process. The operator sets it up and trains them.

Illustration of a row of example Class B cabinets with lit screens and blue base lighting — Illustration of example Class B cabinets. COAM Placement doesn't make, own or operate machines. Georgia prizes are non-cash: gift cards, lottery products or replays.

What every operator we introduce does

Supplies and installs the machines.
Helps you apply for your Class B location license.
Services and repairs the equipment.
Sets up prize redemption and trains your staff.

Earnings

The statewide average and how the 43.5% share works are on our earnings page. We don't publish bar-specific numbers, because none we could verify exist.

See how the numbers work

Already have machines?

If your current agreement is ending, find the end date in your agreement and tell us. Each location can have only one master licensee at a time, and disputes go to the Georgia Lottery. We won't encourage anyone to break an agreement.

Questions bar and restaurant owners ask

Are video poker machines legal in Georgia?

Georgia law names video games for the play of poker and other card games as prohibited gambling devices (O.C.G.A. § 16-12-20), and machines that pay cash are illegal. Class B COAMs licensed by the Georgia Lottery are legal, and prizes are limited to replays, lottery products and gift cards (GLC notice). See video poker machines in Georgia.

Will COAMs affect my liquor license?

They can. Local governments can suspend or revoke an alcohol license for certain COAM violations, and some local alcohol codes have their own rules (O.C.G.A. § 50-27-86). We check your local ordinance first.

How many machines can a bar have?

Up to nine Class B machines under state rules, and six in cities such as Savannah. The 50% rule can also limit it.

Do I pay anything?

We don't charge venues. Georgia requires each Class B location to hold a location license, and the location pays the license fee (O.C.G.A. § 50-27-71). The current fee is $125 per Class B machine each year (GLC guide).

Before you rely on this page

We wrote this page in good faith from the sources linked above, and it reflects our understanding as of the last reviewed date. It's general information, not legal advice for your business. Rules can differ by county and city and can change. Check with the Georgia Lottery or your own attorney before you act on it.