Online gaming at Internet cafes could soon be illegal, and about 30 local businesses could be affected.
Last week, the Florida House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban paying to play games for cash prizes at establishments such as Internet cafes. It will now go to the Florida Senate for vote.
Internet cafes have recently taken the spotlight after the Allied Veterans of the World chain was investigated for fraud.
State Rep. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, who voted in favor of the bill, said Alachua County is home to about 30 Internet cafes.
According to the bill, Florida law “specifically prohibits the keeping or maintaining of a place for the purpose of gambling or gaming.”
Perry said the cafes have been allowed to operate in the past because they fall under a gray area in the state’s gambling law.
He explained that limited-time, promotional games that encourage people to buy a product but don’t require purchase to play are acceptable.
Requiring purchase, however, constitutes gambling.
The cafes skirt the law by offering free gaming while charging patrons for Internet access.
“At Internet [cafes], you really did have to buy to play the game,” he said.
If passed, the bill wouldn’t affect raffles, limited-time game promotions or arcade games.
Although some people advocated allowing the businesses to stay open while imposing restrictions on them, Perry said eliminating the cafes entirely is the best course of action.
“I personally didn’t want to put a stamp of approval on all of these existing Internet cafes by saying we should regulate them,” he said.
But by banning the cafes, Santa Fe College political science professor Thomas J. Harrington said state and local government may miss out on potential revenue. If the cafes are regulated, he said, government could collect money from the businesses.
If residents want an Internet cafe in their community, he said, it may be better to let local government have jurisdiction.
“Government’s No. 1 role and duty is to protect society and its citizens,” he said.
However, Perry said closing local cafes could boost Gainesville’s economy because residents would have more available income to pump into local stores and restaurants.
“I think, long-term, it’s certainly better for the local economy,” he said.
Drew Sanders, a 21-year-old SFC criminal justice freshman, has visited the Lucky Diamond Internet Cafe in Keystone Heights several times.
What drew him to the cafe was the possibility of winning small prizes with small amounts of money. He also liked the atmosphere of the cafe, which offered free drinks and snacks, a comfortable seating area and a large-screen TV.
Sanders said he thinks the choice of gaming at Internet cafes should be left to residents without government interference.
“It was really laid-back,” he said. “I personally think that that’s one of those things people should be allowed.”
Contact Kelcee Griffis at kgriffis@alligator.org.
The now-closed .72 Gainesville Internet Services, located at 4158 W 13th St., is shown empty Thursday afternoon. A bill was voted to ban playing games for cash prizes.
