Can a gift card company be approved by the Georgia Lottery for COAM redemption?

The law and the Lottery's notice do not create an approval for vendors. What must follow the rules is the card and the store that redeems the ticket.

Can a store use its own gift card instead of a vendor?

Yes, as long as the card follows O.C.G.A. § 50-27-71.1: loaded only from a winning ticket, at the store, usable later, never exchanged for cash.

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Who is the approved COAM gift card vendor?

Q: Is there a Georgia Lottery approved list of COAM gift card vendors?

No. The Georgia Lottery's July 1, 2026 notice tells stores to independently research and establish a relationship with a gift card provider. The law sets rules for the card, not an approved company.

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

Short answer: there is no approved vendor. No list, no license, no stamp. Georgia law sets rules for the card. Any card that follows the rules works — including your own store’s card.

Where the myth comes from

Salespeople say “approved” or “endorsed” because it sounds safe. But the Georgia Lottery has not endorsed any gift card company for COAM redemption. Its own July 1, 2026 notice tells a store that does not have gift cards to “independently research and establish a relationship with a gift card provider.” Independently. That is the opposite of an approved list.

What the law asks for instead

The card holds only money from a winning ticket.
It is loaded at the store.
It can be used later, away from the store.
It never becomes cash.
Reloadable or not — your choice.

That is the whole test. A company can help you meet it. A company cannot make you “approved.”

What to ask anyone selling you a card system

Can this card ever be turned into cash anywhere? (It must not.)
Who owns the card balance if I stop using your system?
What is the monthly fee, and what happens to the hardware if I cancel?
Where are my records, and can I print them for an inspector?

The simplest answer

Your own store gift card, spent only in your store, meets every rule without a middleman. What matters is that you keep the records.

Where this comes from

Georgia Lottery COAM Division, “COAM Prize Redemption Changes Effective July 1, 2026”
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

Coam Tracker: your own store gift card, every redemption recorded — 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.