General information on the basis for issuing licences

The act on arrangements for certain gaming machines (1982:636) regulates games in mechanical or electronic gaming machines that do not provide winnings or which only provide winnings in the form of free games on the machine – so-called ‘amusement games’. Such amusement games require licences when they are placed in areas or locations to which the general public have access. This also applies to areas or locations to which access is limited, for example, by invitation or membership of a certain association if the number of people with access reaches a certain level or the terms are so vague that the premises are comparable with areas that are accessible to the general public.

Examples of amusement games

Amusement games are mechanical or electronic gaming machines that do not provide winnings or only provide winnings in the form of free games on the machines. For example pinball, shooters, target games and video games.

Games that cannot be granted a licence

Licences cannot be granted for gaming machines that are specifically intended for use as hazard games, so-called ‘risk games’, for example poker, 21 and bagatelle or for machines that have games specifically intended for gambling for money such as games with fruit wheels and poker games. Nor can machines be licensed if they are specifically designed for games for money, for instance if they have a payment mechanism, an extremely short game time or high point totals. Other examples of games that cannot be granted licences include games that, through their coarse or violent content, may create an environment unsuitable for children and young people. Nor can licences be granted to machines with games that contain pornography.