Can a COAM gift card be cashed at an ATM in Georgia?

No. O.C.G.A. § 50-27-71.1(b) says the card cannot be exchanged for cash, change, or currency, and the Georgia Lottery's September 16, 2026 letter says it can never be used to get cash, in whole or in part.

Can a store give partial cash back on a COAM gift card?

No. The Georgia Lottery's guidance says no cash, in whole or in part. No cash back.

Are Visa or Mastercard gift cards allowed for COAM redemption in Georgia?

Yes, if the card cannot be exchanged for cash: no ATM withdrawal, no cash back, no transfer to a bank or cash app. The law bans the cash, not the brand. A store-only card cannot become cash anywhere.

Who is responsible if a COAM gift card is turned into cash?

The location license holder. The store that redeemed the ticket is the one the rules apply to.

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Can an ATM give cash for a COAM gift card?

September 28, 2026 · Coam Tracker · 2-minute read

Short answer: no. A COAM gift card can never be turned into cash — not at the register, not at an ATM, not through a bank or a cash app. The law says so, and the Georgia Lottery said it again in writing on September 16, 2026.

The law

O.C.G.A. § 50-27-71.1(b) says a gift card used for COAM redemption “shall not be exchanged for cash, change, or currency.” There is no exception for machines, ATMs, or third parties.

What the Georgia Lottery said

In a guidance letter dated September 16, 2026, the Georgia Lottery’s COAM Division wrote that a gift card cannot be used to get cash “in any manner, whether in whole or in part.” No cash back. No partial cash. No workaround.

Why people ask

Some card systems are built on bank cards that work at ATMs. That is exactly what the Lottery is warning about.

If a card can spit out cash anywhere, it is not a legal COAM redemption — and the store that gave it is the one holding the license.

Which cards are allowed

Any gift card can be used — a bank-network card (Visa or Mastercard brand) or your own store card — as long as it follows the rule: no cash, ever. The law does not pick a brand. It bans the cash.

Bank-network card: allowed, but only if cash features are off — no ATM withdrawal, no cash back at a register, no transfer to a bank or cash app. Ask the provider to put that in writing before you use it.
Your own store card: allowed, and it cannot become cash anywhere, because it only works in your store. There is no ATM for it.

What to tell a customer

“This card buys things. It never becomes cash.” Put it on the card and on the receipt so nobody has to argue at the counter.

Where this comes from

O.C.G.A. § 50-27-71.1 — the gift card rules in the law itself
Georgia Lottery COAM Division, “COAM Gift Card Redemption Guidance Letter,” September 16, 2026
Georgia Lottery COAM Division, “COAM Prize Redemption Changes Effective July 1, 2026”

Coam Tracker prints the no-cash rule on every card and receipt — see how →

This page shares general information about Georgia law from public sources, with links. It is not legal advice. Coam Tracker helps you keep records. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Georgia Lottery Corporation or GAMOA.