What is the state of affairs right now?
Many users here, are reporting auctions associated with machines, and associated parts, being pulled for very odd reasons, to which we do not yet know, or fully understand why.
We see BOTH Gaming Commission registered sellers and non-registered alike, getting short-shifted on Ebay, for about the past month.
Theories that we have so far managed to come up with is.....
They are using a new automated script, to check for bad auctions
Gaming Commission are on E-bay's back
Ebay are trying to push some types of auctions, and small-time sellers off the site, and possibly have them use their sister site, Gumtree.
.....
As it stands right now (As pointed out by aaamusements) is the law side of things, as found on the Gaming Commission's site....
aaamusements, on 20 March 2011 - 03:42 PM, said:
I looked into this in some detail in the past, after an operator (who shall remain nameless) told me that if I didn't remove some negative feedback I left for him, he would report me to the Gambling Commission for not having a license.
I even phoned the Commission to clarify what I had read in the Act.
So, the gospel on this is;
PARTS: Any parts can be sold by anyone, irrespective of whether they have a licence or not, SO LONG AS THEY ARE NOT PARTS THAT "AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE GAME".
So, that means that whilst PSUs and reels are fine, percentage keys and software are probably not. Batteries affect the outcome of the game? Undoubtedly, but only because they allow the MPU to keep track of what it has taken in and paid out.
Unsurprisingly there are numerous areas like this that are very grey. And the Commission is not able to clarify this point, all they could do was point me at the legislation.
MACHINES: ANY MACHINE whether working or not, so long as it was originally built as, or converted to be a gaming machine, can only be sold by a person who holds the correct licence from the Commission. One off sales MUST only take place after the "Single Machine Permit" has been obtained.
http://www.gamblingc..._a_licence.aspx
Legacy or not is irrelevant in this situation.
And Ebay's rules are basically wrong on this point (and in fact insufficient in their scope).
So, by selling a machine on Ebay without a licence, yes you are technically breaking the law. BUT in reality the Commission cares not, and just doesn't have the manpower or inclination to enforce it.
Amusingly, another Ebay seller has since threatened to report me to the Commission after I politely asked them to stop using an image that they had taken from one of my websites. I was able to, in the nicest possible way, tell them to go and fornicate themselves with a spiky pole.
I even phoned the Commission to clarify what I had read in the Act.
So, the gospel on this is;
PARTS: Any parts can be sold by anyone, irrespective of whether they have a licence or not, SO LONG AS THEY ARE NOT PARTS THAT "AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE GAME".
So, that means that whilst PSUs and reels are fine, percentage keys and software are probably not. Batteries affect the outcome of the game? Undoubtedly, but only because they allow the MPU to keep track of what it has taken in and paid out.
Unsurprisingly there are numerous areas like this that are very grey. And the Commission is not able to clarify this point, all they could do was point me at the legislation.
MACHINES: ANY MACHINE whether working or not, so long as it was originally built as, or converted to be a gaming machine, can only be sold by a person who holds the correct licence from the Commission. One off sales MUST only take place after the "Single Machine Permit" has been obtained.
http://www.gamblingc..._a_licence.aspx
Legacy or not is irrelevant in this situation.
And Ebay's rules are basically wrong on this point (and in fact insufficient in their scope).
So, by selling a machine on Ebay without a licence, yes you are technically breaking the law. BUT in reality the Commission cares not, and just doesn't have the manpower or inclination to enforce it.
Amusingly, another Ebay seller has since threatened to report me to the Commission after I politely asked them to stop using an image that they had taken from one of my websites. I was able to, in the nicest possible way, tell them to go and fornicate themselves with a spiky pole.
As Alex quite rightfully points out, Ebay seam to be taking a double standard, with respect to licensing requirements, by allowing sellers of a large enough volume to stay (Both licensed and non-licensed alike), but pushing out smaller guys (Like bazpeep on FE, who is fully licensed), no matter if they are licensed or not.
Also ask fellow members, to give any tips on how to avoid getting auctions pulled (With like how to correctly word your auction), and alternative sources for machines and associated parts.
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