Georgia still has no access to expanded gambling other than the Georgia Lottery. To quell the thirst for wagering, there is a vast amount of coin operated amusement machines around the state.
And now, there is a new player in The Peach State. Bravery Gaming and Konami Gaming have partnered to bring new games to the state.
The goal of this new partnership is to capitalize on the expansive coin operated amusement machine market by adding new and improved games to locations all around the state.
Konami will make COAMs while Bravery will distribute them
Georgia has no commercial casinos despite sporting more than 10 million residents. Likewise, Georgia online casinos are nonexistent. However, online sweepstakes casinos are legal in the state. They offer prizes that can be exchanged for real money.
Bravery Gaming is a Georgia-based company with its headquarters in Duluth. Because of that, Bravery has a thorough understanding of the Georgia gaming market. Additionally, Bravery operates in coin operated amusement machine (COAM) and lottery markets across the country, giving them even more experience in the industry.
Konami has decades of game manufacturing experience, producing iconic games like Contra and Metal Gear Solid. Bravery’s collaboration with Konami could be a significant move when their COAMs are released.
Konami will provide the games, while Bravery will be its exclusive distributor in regulated non-casino markets. The first market for this collaboration will be in Georgia, with others to follow.
Company chiefs see partnership as win-win
President of Bravery Gaming Matt Reback is excited about the new partnership.
“We are thrilled to join forces with Konami Gaming, a true pioneer in the industry with an extensive library of hit games. This partnership not only highlights Bravery’s commitment to offering unparalleled gaming experiences but also demonstrates our dedication to expanding the reach of our entertainment products across various regulated markets.”
President and Chief Executive Officer at Konami Gaming, Inc. Steve Sutherland also spoke on the collaboration between Konami and Bravery and the hopes he has for the group effort in Georgia.
“We are committed to finding new ways to make our products available to customers in regulated markets around the globe. In Bravery, we found a partner with the integrity, vision, and commitment to product quality we were looking for to help us tap into the growing Georgia COAM market.”
Not all COAMS are the same
Georgia not having access to casino gambling or sports wagering means there are only a couple options to scratch the gambling itch. One is of course the Georgia Lottery, but the other that has become a massive hit are COAMs.
These machines generate billions of dollars each year, and the licensing fees paid to the state are substantial.
Georgia law has provided its own description of what COAMs are.
“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.”
Essentially, COAMs are simply machines that take money – usually coins – and give the player some sort of amusement. This could be a jukebox, pinball machine, claw machine, pool table or any other sort of recreational activity where the amusement gained is the activity itself. That means COAMs do not come with any actual prize. Those examples are known as Class A COAMs.
Konami-Bravery will produce and distribute Class B COAMs
There is another sort of COAM in Georgia which are under the Class B COAM designation. Those include a few different prizes that can be obtained through games of skill. This is the type of COAM that the new Konami and Bravery collaboration is aiming for.
Only certain prizes are allowed to be awarded with Class B COAMs.
- Beverages
- Food
- Fuel
- Lottery tickets
- In-store gift cards and gift certificates
- Store merchandise
- Toys
There are some prizes that are outlawed in The Peach State.
- Cash
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Firearms
- Payment of utilities
- Gift cards to other stores
Class B COAMs are usually located in gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants and bars among other places. They are not slot machines. They must be games of skill to be legal in the eyes of the state. There are nearly 25,000 Class B COAMs in Georgia.
