Montana Title 23. Parks, Recreation, Sports, and Gambling § 23-5-631. Examination and approval of new video gambling machines and associated equipment--fee

(1) The department shall examine and may approve a new video gambling machine or associated equipment or a modification to an approved machine or associated equipment that is manufactured, sold, or distributed for use in the state before the video gambling machine or associated equipment is sold, played, or used. A licensed manufacturer or distributor may bring a video gambling machine or associated equipment authorized by this chapter into the state for research and development on behalf of a licensed manufacturer prior to submission of the machine or equipment to the department for approval.

(2) A video gambling machine or associated equipment or a modification to an approved machine or associated equipment may not be examined or approved by the department until the video gambling machine manufacturer is licensed as required in 23-5-625.

(3) All video gambling machines or associated equipment approved by the state prior to October 1, 1989, must be considered approved under this part.

(4) The department shall require the manufacturer seeking the examination and approval of a new video gambling machine or associated equipment or a modification to an approved machine or associated equipment to pay the anticipated actual costs of the examination in advance and, after the completion of the examination, shall refund overpayments or charge and collect amounts sufficient to reimburse the department for underpayments of actual costs.

(5) Payments received under subsection (4) must be deposited in an account in the state special revenue fund and used to administer this part and for other purposes provided by law.

(6) The department may inspect and test and approve, disapprove, or place a condition upon a video gambling machine or associated equipment or a modification to an approved machine or associated equipment prior to its distribution and placement for play by the public. A manufacturer, distributor, or route operator may not supply a video gambling machine or associated equipment to a manufacturer, distributor, route operator, or operator unless the machine or equipment has been approved by the department.