Gaming Law

Our attorneys literally wrote the laws on amusement gaming in Georgia. We have also successfully defended gaming statutes against attacks in federal and state courts. Based on our knowledge of ever-changing Georgia statutory and regulatory law, we frequently represent our clients before regulators from the Georgia Lottery Corporation and in commercial litigation. These experiences give our attorneys a significant leg up when dealing with the highly regulated coin operated amusement machine industry. In addition, we have been on the leading edge of Lottery’s new arbitration regime for dispute resolution, successfully representing master licensees in arbitrations against location licensees around the state.

It can seem like the rules are always changing within this growing marketplace, which is why it is especially important for licensees to look to Robbins Firm attorneys, who have been involved with the evolution of the governing statutes and regulations since day one, for legal advice in this industry.

As Georgia policymakers weigh the expanding HOPE Scholarship revenue sources opportunities through expanded gaming, we are uniquely prepared to assist the industry in its current and future growth phases.

Representative Matters

  • We assisted the government affairs team of Georgia Amusement and Music Operators Association by drafting statutory language and regulations promulgated pursuant to HB 487 (2013) and SB 190 (2015), the two most significant pieces of legislation regulating the coin operated amusement machine industry.
  • Our firm obtained reversal of a trial court order that HB 487 invalidated all contracts between machine owners and store owners prior to April 2013. All Star, Inc. et al., v. Georgia Atlanta Amusement, LLC,332 Ga. App. 1 (2015). The Supreme Court of Georgia’s unanimous denial of certiorari reinforced the appellate court’s ruling.
  • We successfully represented Georgia Amusement and Music Operators Association as amici in store owners’ unsuccessful constitutional challenge to HB 487. Commoditas Georgia, LLC v. Deal,Civil Action No. 1:13-cv-02131 (N.D. Ga. June 28, 2013).
  • We assisted master licensees with licensure issues before the Georgia Lottery Corporation.
  • Our firm filed an Amicus Brief on behalf of the Georgia Amusement and Music Operators’ Association to challenge a local ordinance that interfered with the placement of bona fide coin operated amusement machines. After also partially arguing the case, the Supreme Court of Georgia unanimously the Association’s position, reversed the trial court, and struck the local ordinance as preempted by State law. Gebrekidan v. City of Clarkston, Supreme Court of Georgia, March 21, 2016 — S.E.2d —- 2016 WL 1085243.
  • We secured a final award in a Georgia Lottery Corporation arbitration providing for significant money damages and important injunctive relief in a dispute between the Firm’s client, a COAM owner, and its former customer, a store owner that had the Firm client’s machines placed in its store. The store owner improperly disabled the owner’s machines in breach of the parties’ contract and the arbitrator ordered the store to pay monetary damages, including arbitration expenses and attorney fees, and the return the Firm’s client’s machines to full operation at the location.