How does a customer redeem an in-house COAM gift card?

They come back to the store and shop. The clerk looks up the card, takes the purchase off the balance, and gives a receipt. The card never becomes cash.

Do I have to make a deposit to offer COAM gift cards?

No. There is no bank deposit. The card balance is store goods the store owes. The store must keep a record of every card still holding a balance.

Where does the money on a COAM gift card come from?

Only from a winning ticket, loaded at the store by the licensee, an employee, or a self-service device (O.C.G.A. § 50-27-71.1).

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How does an in-house COAM gift card work, step by step?

September 28, 2026 · Coam Tracker · 3-minute read

Short answer: the customer hands you a winning ticket, you put that amount on a card that only works at your store, you write it down, and the customer spends it on your shelves whenever they want. No cash ever moves.

Step 1 — the ticket

The machine prints a ticket for the amount won. The customer brings it to the counter.

Step 2 — the card

You load that exact amount onto a store gift card. New card, or top up a card they already have (reloadable). The load happens at your store, by you or your clerk. That is the law.

Step 3 — the record

Write down the ticket amount, the card, the date and time, and who did it. This is the record an inspector asks for. Keep it five years.

Step 4 — the customer shops

Today, tomorrow, next month — the customer picks items and pays with the card. You take the price off the card balance. Store goods only. Never cash back.

Step 5 — the balance goes to zero

A non-reloadable card is done when it is spent. A reloadable card waits for the next winning ticket.

“Do I have to deposit money somewhere?”

No. There is no bank deposit and no company holding your money. The card balance is store goods you owe, not a pile of cash. What you do have to keep is a clean record of every card still holding a balance — that is money your store owes in goods.

“How does the customer redeem it?”

They come back and shop. The clerk looks up the card (a scan or a code), takes the purchase off the balance, and hands them a receipt. That is it. Nothing goes to a bank or a card network.

“Where do I get the cards?”

Two roads. Rent a card system from a company (monthly fee, their cards, their hardware, their contract). Or issue your own store card with software that tracks the balance and prints the record. Either road must follow the same rules; only the cost and the headaches differ.

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 Prize Redemption Changes Effective July 1, 2026”
Georgia Lottery COAM Division, “COAM Gift Card Redemption Guidance Letter,” September 16, 2026

Coam Tracker does steps 2 through 5 in one tap and keeps the records — 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.