(a) Sections 13A-12-70 to 13A-12-75, inclusive, shall not apply to a coin-operated game or device designed and manufactured for bona fide amusement purposes which, by application of some skill, only entitles the player to replay the game or device at no additional cost if a single play of the bona fide coin-operated amusement machine or device can reach no more than 25 free replays or can be discharged of accumulated free replay, or rewards the player exclusively with merchandise limited to noncash merchandise, prizes, toys, gift certificates, or novelties, each of which has a wholesale value of not more than five dollars ($5). This subsection shall not apply to any game or device classified by the United States government as requiring a federal gaming tax stamp under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

Attorney's Note

Under the Alabama Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class A misdemeanorup to 1 yearup to $6,000
For details, see Ala. Code § 13A-5-7
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Terms Used In Alabama Code 13A-12-76

  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • United States: includes the territories thereof and the District of Columbia. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) Any person who gives to any other person money or anything of value for free replays on coin-operated devices described in subsection (a) shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(c) Sections 13A-12-70 to 13A-12-75, inclusive, shall not apply to a crane game machine or device which meets the following requirements:

(1) The crane machine or device is designed and manufactured only for bona fide amusement purposes and involves at least some skill in its operation.
(2) For a single play of the crane machine or device, the winning player is rewarded exclusively with merchandise contained within the machine itself and the merchandise is limited to noncash merchandise, prizes, toys, gift certificates, or novelties, each of which has a wholesale value not exceeding five dollars ($5).
(3) The player of the crane machine or device is able to control the timing of the use of the claw or grasping device to attempt to pick up or grasp a prize, toy, or novelty.
(4) The player of the crane machine or device is made aware of the total time which the crane machine or device allows during a game for the player to maneuver the claw or grasping device into a position to attempt to pick up or grasp a prize, toy, or novelty.
(5) The claw or grasping device is not of a size, design, or shape that prohibits picking up or grasping a prize, toy, or novelty contained within the crane machine or device.
(6) The crane machine or device is not classified by the United States government as requiring a federal gaming stamp under the Internal Revenue Code.
(d) A player of a bona fide coin-operated amusement machine may accumulate winnings for the successful play of a bona fide coin-operated amusement machine through either tokens or tickets, and may redeem these tokens or tickets for merchandise so long as the amount of tokens or tickets earned on a single play does not exceed five dollars ($5) per unit.
(e)

(1) For purposes of this section, “bona fide coin-operated amusement machine” means 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, 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, and which can be legally shipped interstate according to federal law. Examples of bona fide coin-operated amusement machines include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. Pinball machines.
b. Console machines.
c. Video games.
d. Crane machines.
e. Claw machines.
f. Pusher machines.
g. Bowling machines.
h. Novelty arcade games.
i. Foosball or table soccer machines.
j. Miniature racetrack or football machines.
k. Target or shooting gallery machines.
l. Basketball machines.
m. Shuffleboard games.
n. Kiddie ride games.
o. Skeeball machines.
p. Air hockey machines.
q. Roll down machines.
r. Coin-operated pool table or coin-operated billiard table.
s. Any other similar amusement machine which can be legally operated in Alabama.
t. Every machine of any kind or character used by the public to provide music whose operation requires the payment of or the insertion of a coin, bill, other money, token, ticket, or similar object, such as jukeboxes or other similar types of music machines.
(2) The term “bona fide coin-operated amusement machine” does not include the following:

a. Coin-operated washing machines or dryers.
b. Vending machines which for payment of money dispense products or services.
c. Gas and electric meters.
d. Pay telephones.
e. Cigarette vending machines.
f. Coin-operated scales.
g. Coin-operated gumball machines.
h. Coin-operated parking meters.
i. Coin-operated television sets which provide cable or network programming.
j. Machines which are not legally permitted to be operated in Alabama.
k. Slot machines.
l. Video poker games.
(f) Any person owning or possessing an amusement game or device described in subdivision (1) of subsection (e) or any person employed by or acting on behalf of another person who gives to another person money for noncash merchandise, prizes, toys, gift certificates, or novelties received as a reward in playing an amusement game or device shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
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