Politics
Senate Rockets Internet Sweepstakes Cafes toward Close-Down
Around the State
Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, chairmain of the Senate Gaming Committee
Committee Chairman Garrett Richter, R-Naples, set the pace when he began the meeting, "Internet sweepstakes have wiggled their way through loopholes long enough."
He said his interest is in "reaffirming that all gaming is illegal unless it has been legalized" -- and Internet cafe gaming has not.
The fast-moving issue comes in the wake of last week's arrest of individuals running a chain of the strip center arcades for alleged racketeering and money laundering, followed by the resignation of Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll.
Among those opposed to a ban who spoke before the committee:
Father Bob Caudill, priest for a Fort Lauderdale soup kitchen, who said his church operates Internet cafes that provide 30 percent of the kitchen's revenue. He reminded senators that Fort Lauderdale has a homeless population of 10,000.
Edwin Wells, Internet cafe owner: "Our people are all crying, 'what are we going to do with our time now, we have no place to go.'"
Mary Lucas, operator of Shooting Star Sweepstakes: "You will be putting 16,000 people out of work; we pay taxes, we follow the rules ... we are family to our people."
Tami Patel, Internet cafe owner, who acknowledged the few bad apples in the business's barrel. But, she said, "You're taking the people's choice away. If you have one bad hamburger at McDonald's, are you going to close down Burger King and Wendy's too?"
Two South Florida owners said, if their customers couldn't meet each other for social fun at an Internet cafe, they would be forced to drive across heavy traffic to the Hard Rock (casino).
Speaking in favor of the ban:
Adam Giery, Florida Chamber of Commerce: “Today is the first of many steps in the right direction to stop the degradation of Florida’s communities. The Florida Chamber has been a longtime supporter of prohibiting Internet cafes, and we applaud the Florida Senate for taking action to improve Florida’s quality of life.”
Brian Pitts, Justice-2-Jesus: "The reason you need to do this bill is because Internet cafes are taking advantage of people who don't know they're being taken advantage of."
Ron Book, lobbyist for Magic City Casino and Flagler Dog Track, who described the longtime "illegal" operation of maquinitas -- or "little machines" in South Florida. "I call it an ongoing criminal activity."
Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, summed up the committee's point of view by saying, "I googled these places. They advertise poker and gambling ... If that's what they offer, they are illegal."
Other senators said that admitting patrons would go to the Hard Rock if they couldn't spend the day at an Internet cafe tells them all they need to know -- they are gambling.
The House Gaming Committee established its own bill banning Internet cafes on Friday.
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Video Credit: Dave Heller
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
Comments (31)
I promise to do everything in my power to enrich myself on the backs of the taxpayers.
I promise to take money from special interest groups and allow them to influence my decisions even if it means screwing my constituents.
I promise transparency with back room deals made behind closed doors.
I promise to lead you by the hand because you’re too stupid to make your own decisions.
I promise to tell you “yes, I’ll do that for you”. Then do exactly the opposite.
I promise that if you elect me, you’ll be sorry that you did.
Thank you for your support.
A gaming industry lobbyist, who lobbied on behalf of internet cafes, gives money to a certain senator's campaign fund (you know who you are, and so does the Miami Herald). Then the senator gives money to the lobbyist for plane travel. Then the senator submits the cost of the plane trip against his “expense” account for reimbursement. Sounds to me like the taxpayers are paying the lobbyist, not just the gaming industry. Then this senator has the audacity to say he sees nothing wrong with it.
Money is coming out of a senator’s taxpayer-funded expense account, going to a lobbyist, who then puts money into the senator’s campaign fund.
Also, I did the math. It’s about 400 miles from Southwest Florida to Tallahassee. In a car that gets 30 miles per gallon, that’s about $100.00 round trip. Now we get 4 South Florida representatives to car pool, share the driving and split the cost of gas. Comes out to $25.00 each. Round trip. So, $2500.00 for a plane owned by a lobbyist, or $100.00 split between four representatives?
Also, while I think Rick Scott should have vetoed the bill, I can see how it was easy to get caught up in the "mob mentality" of the rest of Florida's elected representatives. If the house had voted 58-56 in favor, and the senate 21-19 in favor, Scott may have simply vetoed the bill.
I urge you all to look at each of your representatives closely. Follow the money trail on political contributions they took, and see how they are ripping off the Florida taxpayer. It used to be that people got into politics to help the people. Now it seems they're only in it to enrich themselves and their cronies.
internets and casinos can co exsit and be good for one another and with the right set up the state and local goverment can make money also
You do realize that Florida has more “Gentlemen’s Clubs” per capita than any other state, right? And that these places are blights on the community, are they not? And that they exploit young women, as well? And that they are a cash business with no accountability as to where the cash goes, right? As well as being havens for drug use and semi-prostitution.
Yet in your opinion, internet cafes where folks go to spend some time and money enjoying themselves, of their own free will, without exploiting anyone, ought to be banned. It's okay for a seedy strip club to exploit young women, collect thousands of dollars in cash per night and under-report their earnings. But an educated adult cannot decide for themselves where to spend their time and hard earned money?
I think you need to get your priorities straight.
I say clearly, ban them totally. Seniors can go to the major casino's if they are so obsessed with their gambling addictions.
I am not a senior but I enjoy going to the internet cafe to unwind after work. I, like most people, set a limit and don't go crazy. I enjoy my time there and it is no different than spending the same amount going out to see a movie, a play or visit a theme park. I don't smoke, don't drink, hate bars, don't live vicariously through kids, so what is an adult in my age bracket supposed to do if they have been to the beach, don't want to be a bar fly or a gym rat and don't like wandering around in a mall? I like my internet cafe. Now, there are some bad ones and some that seem predatory and they need to be weeded out, but they could do that without killing them all. Let the good ones continue and get rid of the bad ones. Claims of blights on neighborhoods is quite bogus when my local county grants a million permits to check cashing storefronts, liquor stores and other seedy enterprises that cater to the fringe element much more so than any internet cafe.
Sweepstakes cafe's do not hurt anyone.
They are a safe meeting place for those looking for a little social entertainment.
You are going to put thousands of people out of work not to mention the economic impact they have on the area. (buildings rented, utilities, snacks they provide for customers, TAXES etc...)
Tax them more and leave them alone.
Brian Pitts, Justice-2-Jesus: "The reason you need to do this bill is because Internet cafes are taking advantage of people who don't know they're being taken advantage of."
please let me know how they are being taken advantage of, these places dont FORCE anyone to do anything, you come in you play WIN OR LOSE, you leave, Just because one place screws it up, does not mean that everywhere else the same thing is going on. The fact is, there needs to be an ongoing investigation of all the other places, you cant just shut people down for ASSUMING they are doing something illegal. You need HARD PROOF that EVERY SINGLE place is doing the same thing.
If I can walk into a gas station and buy $1000 in lottery tickets, it's the same thing. A predetermined win/lose that I choose to play.
How much investigation has went into the Florida Lottery?
why is it every year, the schools hit the parents up to pay for band uniforms, school trips etc, if the Lottery is benefitting these schools, why are they struggling so much, who knows what they are doing with the money also, Your bill HB 155, also staes that's all electronic gambling device are illegal, that would involve Hard Rock cafe as well, seems to me your bill is full of holes, and thanks for ruining a place for the older people to socialize, and putting 13,000 people out of work, nice job our Fl senate in action, guess who's getting voted out when their time comes!
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