Internet Cafe Gambling Becoming Popular In Florida

A few years ago the popular way to skirt the law in many state when it came to gambling was to open gambling halls where people could play slot machines and earn points that could be retrieved for prizes.

The prizes usually were shopping gift cards or merchandise. Authorities quickly caught on in many areas and chased many of these businesses out of their towns. Now, there is a new way to try and run a gambling operation.

Internet cafes are popping up in Florida. The basis of the cafe is that people come in and buy time on the Internet. Along with the Internet time comes credits that can be used to play video sweepstakes games.

If a person wins on these sweepstakes games, they are paid in cash. So far, police agencies have yet to bust one of these cafes for illegal gambling. Many who run these cafe's believe they are not breaking any Florida laws.

Florida law actually protects these gambling houses. The law, as interpreted by the cafe owners, is that sweepstakes and game promotions are legal in the state because they are not the main attraction of the cafe.

According to the Herald Trinune in Sarasota, Florida, the selling of Internet time is the actual attraction, and the games and the prizes are just a bonus people are receiving for buying the Internet time.

Other establishments have opened that are using phone cards as the main draw. People are buying phone cards and receiving credits that can be used to enter in the sweepstakes games. While the establishments are sure they are not violating the law, authorities have not yet determined that to be true.

Several police agencies have become aware of the new Internet cafes and have begun keeping an eye on them. Undercover officers will most likely be used to verify whether or not the law is being broken.

December 30, 2008
Posted By Larry Rutherford
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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