Should Florida ban Internet cafes?

Today's Buzz: Should Florida ban Internet cafes?

Tuesday's Buzz: Should Florida ban Internet cafes?

March 26, 2013
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board

Last week the Florida House overwhelmingly passed a bill to ban Internet cafes, which critics call strip-mall casinos. Café operators have taken advantage of a loophole in state law that allows businesses to offer "sweepstakes" games that resemble virtual slot machines. This month federal and state authorities accused a company operating 49 cafes in Florida of running an illegal gambling operation and charged 57 people. Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll, who had consulted for the company while still a state legislator, resigned, though she has not been charged. A Senate bill to ban the cafes hasn't come up for a floor vote yet. Opponents of cafes say that they target senior citizens and the poor, and have never been approved by lawmakers or voters like other forms of gambling in Florida. But supporters say they are harmless fun, and should be regulated, not banned – especially when the state allows or encourages other forms of gambling. Should Gov. Scott sign a ban if legislators send him one? Talk about it!


http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-03-26/news/os-todays-buzz-florida-ban-internet-cafes-032613_1_ban-internet-cafes-today-s-buzz-offer-sweepstakes-games