Cafe operators, senior-citizen customers, veterans, even a soup-kitchen priest from Fort Lauderdale pleaded with the Senate Gaming Committee on Monday not to ban Internet cafes in Florida. But the committee voted 11-0 to advance SB 1030, a bill that changes its version of a moratorium on the gaming-arcade businesses to an out-and-out ban.
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 Floridas communities. The Florida Chamber has been a longtime supporter of prohibiting Internet cafes, and we applaud the Florida Senate for taking action to improve Floridas 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.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
