Gaming machines can be designed and manufactured by holders of a gaming machine dealers licence.
Approved technical standards have been developed for:
- gaming machines
- games
- ticket in and ticket out
- in-venue jackpot systems
- the communication protocol that gaming equipment uses to communicate with the Centralised Monitoring System (CMS)
A new or modified gaming machine must be tested by a licensed testing facility before it can be approved by the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority Board (ILGA).
Testing facilities use approved technical standards to evaluate gaming equipment.
Apply for a gaming machine dealers licence
Technical standards and information
ILGA Technical Standard Circular June 2023 (PDF 103.44KB)
An update to the NSW technical standards, approved on 6 June 2023.
Amended Gaming Machine National Standard
The Gaming Machine National Standard is a guide for manufacturers in designing gaming machines, game software and related equipment. It also provides a benchmark to make sure manufacturers meet legal requirements. The amended GMNSW 12.1 comes into effect on 12 March 2026 in NSW.
NSW Appendix to the National Standard (PDF 790.25KB)
The Appendix lists the technical requirements, which are:
- in addition to those defined in the Gaming Machine National Standard
- different to those defined in the Gaming Machine National Standard
- not required.
NSW gaming machine communications protocol 2013 (PDF 1.05MB)
The protocol defines the communications requirements that exist between gaming machines, the Centralised Monitoring System (CMS), and any other equipment.
NSW jackpot technical standard (PDF 288.13KB)
The jackpot technical standard lists the technical requirements for:
- integrated Standalone Progressive Gaming Machines
- linked Progressive Jackpot Systems
- standard Linked Progressive Gaming Machines.
Retirement of the NSW Gaming Machine Prohibited Features Register (PDF 17.61KB)
This register outlines the features that are banned from gaming machines in NSW. Gaming machine manufacturers can use this as a guide to ensure gaming machine design follows the harm-minimisation guidelines.
The issues currently listed in the register have been incorporated in the amended GMNS 12.1. As a result, the NSW Gaming Machine Prohibited Features Register will be retired on 12 September 2026 (12 months from commencement of GMNS 12.1).
NSW TITO technical standard (PDF 279.07KB)
This document describes the command classes required to support the ‘Ticket In & Ticket Out’ (TITO) function.