Disposal of electronic gaming machines

When surrendering a gaming machine licence in Queensland, you must consider how to dispose of your electronic gaming machines (EGMs), through sale or destruction. This also applies when decreasing the number of EGMs at a venue.

The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) no longer needs to be advised when you dispose of gaming machines.

However, the Gaming Machine Act 1991 requires that gaming machines must be disposed of appropriately. This must be done within 1 month of us approving the application to decrease or accepting the notification of a gaming machine licence surrender.

If you require more than 1 month to dispose of gaming machines, lodge an application to store gaming machines with us.

Selling electronic gaming machines

Gaming machines can only be sold from 1 licensee to another, such as a hotel or club who holds a gaming machine licence or other licensed organisations.

Gaming machines must not be sold or given away for display purposes in a home or museum, even those that may be classified as antiques, and may not be converted or repurposed for any other use.

Owners of private collections, such as a museum exhibition, must first obtain approval from the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming before possessing gaming machines.

The sale to unlicensed persons will result in the gaming machines being confiscated and both the seller and buyer, or person in possession of the machine, being prosecuted. The maximum penalty for this offence is 1,000 penalty units ($133,450 as of 1 July 2019) or 5-years imprisonment.

Disposal by destruction

Gaming machine licensees, licensed monitoring operators, approved financiers and gaming trainers no longer need our approval before destroying gaming machines.

Gaming machines must be destroyed if they cannot be sold to another licensee.

This includes machines that are no longer in working order. EGMs must not be converted, displayed or reused in any way.

To destroy gaming machines, they must be completely crushed. EGMs can be taken to a company that has crushing facilities or to the local refuse station where graders are available to crush items.

Do not remove any part of the machines such as art work, electronic components or serial plates before it is crushed.

Make sure you keep any paperwork relating to EGMs that are crushed in case an inspector requests proof.

Decreasing the number of EGMs at a venue

You can choose to decrease the number of EGMs at your licensed venue without surrendering the gaming machine licence.

You will need to complete an application to decrease the approved number of gaming machines (Form 7A) and submit it with the required documents and fees – find out more at ABLIS: gaming machine licences.

For hotels, the number of operating authorities that is more than the approved number of EGMs must be sold at an authorised sale.

For clubs, the excess number of entitlements must be transferred (sold) to another club within 2 years or they become entitlements of the State.

Also consider...

• Learn about compliance for EGM licensees.
• Read the Gaming Machine Act 1991.