Why haven’t such establishments already been shut down?
Law enforcement has limited resources and the gambling laws in Florida are, to some extent, complicated. Moreover, legal counsel for certain of such establishments has aggressively lobbied local law enforcement and others to further the effort to characterize the establishments as sweepstakes or game promotions. As a result, although some sheriff’s offices and state attorneys in Florida have moved to prosecute Internet cafes engaged in illegal behavior, others have not. The proposed local legislation will send a clear signal that our community does not tolerate such activities, and will aid law enforcement. The so-called “internet cafes” are simply masquerading as legitimate establishments and hoping that no one will look beneath the mask and uncover what they truly are.
