How to get slot machines in your business
If you run a tavern, pub or restaurant in South Africa, Limited Payout Machines can be a legal additional income stream, but only through a licensed route operator and with the right approvals. This guide explains what is involved, who qualifies and what to expect from Crazy Slots.
Slot machines outside casinos, regulated
The slot machines you see in neighbourhood venues are Limited Payout Machines. They have capped stakes and prizes, are linked to a central monitoring system and are regulated by each province's gambling board.
A business cannot simply own and run them. A licensed route operator like Crazy Slots holds the operator licence, supplies and maintains the machines, and partners with individual venues that hold their own site licences. Our role is to guide you through that process and support you once you are trading.
See the full list of services in what Crazy Slots offers site owners, or read about why venues choose Crazy Slots as their route operator.
Four stages from enquiry to installed machines
- 01
Send an enquiry
Tell us about your premises: the type of business, where it is, your trading hours and the space you have available. The online application takes a few minutes and there is no obligation at this stage.
- 02
Local site assessment
A regional representative looks at your venue in person. We consider the layout, existing licences, the surrounding area and whether the site is likely to meet provincial requirements. Every venue is assessed individually.
- 03
Applications and approvals
If the site is suitable, we help prepare the site licence application to the provincial gambling board, the floor plan and the supporting documents, and assist with any local authority approvals. Machines cannot operate until these are granted.
- 04
Installation and ongoing support
Once approvals are in place, machines are installed, connected to the required monitoring system and your staff are trained. Our helpdesk and technicians then support the site for as long as the partnership runs.
Qualifying venues
- Taverns
- Established neighbourhood taverns with a regular adult clientele and controlled access.
- Pubs and bars
- Licensed pubs where machines can sit in a supervised, clearly defined area.
- Restaurants
- Licensed restaurants with suitable floor space separate from family dining.
- Sports betting venues
- Premises already operating within a regulated gambling environment.
- Other suitable premises
- Other liquor-licensed or hospitality businesses may qualify after assessment.
Every premises is assessed on its own merits. Enquiring does not guarantee eligibility, and final approval rests with the provincial gambling board and local authority.
No capital outlay for machines at qualifying sites
Crazy Slots supplies the machines. Instead of buying equipment, a qualifying site enters a revenue partnership: machine income is shared between the venue and the operator according to terms agreed in writing before installation.
Those terms, and any assistance with application costs, are subject to the site being approved and to the applicable provincial rules. We will walk you through the agreement so you understand it before signing.
Income varies from venue to venue. We do not guarantee profits or any specific earnings.
Approvals come before machines
Gambling in South Africa is regulated provincially. Before any machine is switched on at your premises, the site must hold a site licence issued by the gambling board in your province, and the relevant local authority approvals, such as zoning or land-use consent, must be in place.
Purchasing or leasing a machine on its own does not permit you to offer gambling. Operating a machine without the correct licences is an offence. Applications usually include a floor plan, business and ownership documents and probity information, and the board may inspect the premises.
We help you prepare and submit these documents, but the decision belongs to the regulators. After approval, licensed sites must keep meeting responsible gambling, age restriction and FICA obligations.
Five provinces, one process
The steps are the same everywhere we operate, but each province has its own gambling regulator. Find your regional contact in the regional contact section.
Gauteng
Contact our Gauteng team in Roodepoort to discuss slot machines for your tavern, pub, restaurant or other suitable business. The team can assess your premises and explain the provincial application process.
Contact our Gauteng teamNorth West
Our North West route operator is based in Mafikeng. Speak to the regional team about your venue's layout, existing licences and the next steps towards an LPM site assessment.
Contact our North West teamLimpopo
Our Limpopo team is based in Polokwane. Submit your business location and venue details so the team can discuss suitability and the approvals required for your premises.
Contact our Limpopo teamFree State
Contact our Free State route operator in Bloemfontein about a licensed LPM partnership. A regional assessment helps establish the requirements for your particular business.
Contact our Free State teamNorthern Cape
Our Northern Cape team is based in Kimberley. Get in touch to discuss your venue, arrange the next steps for an assessment and understand the relevant licensing requirements.
Contact our Northern Cape teamLesotho
Our Lesotho operations are handled separately under that country's own laws and regulators. Contact us directly to discuss sites there.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get slot machines in my business?
In South Africa, slot machines in taverns, pubs and restaurants are Limited Payout Machines (LPMs), which must be supplied through a licensed route operator such as Crazy Slots. You start by submitting an enquiry, we assess your premises, and if it is suitable we help you apply for a site licence from your provincial gambling board and any local approvals. Machines are installed only after those approvals are granted.
What does it cost to have machines installed?
For qualifying sites, Crazy Slots supplies the machines under a revenue partnership, so the business owner does not pay capital to buy them. The exact arrangement, including how revenue is shared and any application-related costs, is set out in an agreement before anything is installed and remains subject to approvals. We do not promise any particular profit or earnings, because results depend on the venue and its patrons.
Does my business qualify?
Pubs, taverns, restaurants, sports betting venues and other suitable premises can be considered, but each one is assessed individually. Factors include existing licences, the premises layout, location, ownership and probity requirements set by the gambling board. Submitting an enquiry does not guarantee eligibility or approval.
Which provinces do you operate in?
We are licensed to operate in Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, Free State and Northern Cape. Our operations in Lesotho are handled separately under that country's own rules. If your business is outside these areas, we may not be able to assist.
Can I just buy a slot machine and put it in my venue?
No. Buying a machine does not give anyone permission to offer gambling. Every LPM must be operated under the licence of a route operator, the site itself must hold a site licence from the provincial gambling board, and relevant local authority approvals must be in place before a machine can be used by the public.
How long does the process take?
There is no fixed timeline. Most of the time is spent waiting for the provincial gambling board and local authority to process the application, which varies by province, workload and how complete the documents are. We keep you informed throughout and install as soon as approvals allow.
How many machines can my site have?
The number of machines is determined during assessment and is limited by the applicable licence and provincial rules. It depends on the site and what the gambling board approves, so we confirm it per venue rather than quoting a standard figure.
Who maintains the machines once installed?
Crazy Slots remains responsible for the machines. We provide a support helpdesk, technicians for repairs and maintenance, and training for owners and staff, including compliance responsibilities such as FICA requirements.
Ready to find out if your venue qualifies?
Submit a short application and a regional representative will contact you to arrange an assessment.
No persons under 18 permitted to gamble. National Responsible Gambling Programme: 0800 006 008.