Guidelines and Rules

All coin-operated amusement machines located in the City of San Antonio are required to display an Occupational Tax Decal issued by the City of San Antonio. The tax is $15.00 for each machine. The decal is valid from June 1st through May 31st of the following year. The period is prorated ($7.50) for machines placed in service from December 1st through May 31st.

Machines (working and non-working) placed in locations without first having paid the occupational fee, and not having the decal appropriately affixed to the machine will be sealed by City of San Antonio Investigators and/or a citation will be issued by the San Antonio Police Department. The full $15.00 tax is required for all sealed machines, regardless of the date the tax is paid. In addition, there is a $5 sealing fee for each machine sealed.

• The seal may not be broken by anyone other than a City Investigator. The machine owner and/or location owner will be subject to a $500 fine of up to $500 for breaking or allowing the seal to be broken, or allowing the machine to be operated without having first been cleared by the City Investigator to do so.

• Machines may be sealed for decals that have been torn, removed, or otherwise invalidated, or for those decals not permanently and properly affixed to the machine. A machine may also be sealed if the decal is not displayed in a conspicuous location on the machine. Tape or other non-permanent methods may not be used to attach a decal.

• The owner of the machine is responsible for replacing any decals that have been removed or defaced at the regular price. The City of San Antonio does not sell a replacement decal at a reduced price.

• There is no grace period for the payment of the occupational tax. All machines must have a decal permanently affixed prior to placing the machine in a location available for use by the public or employees.

• All coin-operated amusement machines located in the City of San Antonio displaying a State of Texas Amusement Machine license are required to have a City of San Antonio decal attached.

If you have questions regarding the occupation tax required of a coin-operated amusement machine, please call (210) 207-8660 (or click here to email) for information or a pamphlet governing coin-operated amusement machine requirements. Click here for a PDF file covering the guidelines and policies of the City regarding purchase and placement of decals on coin-operated amusement machines.