House Continues Support for Bill to Close Internet Cafes

The House voted 72-43 Thursday for a bill that would prohibit Internet cafes and arcades that offer slot-machine style games that offer sweepstakes instead of directly giving cash as prizes.

However, HB 3 isnt expected to advance in the Senate, where the focus has been to regulate the rapidly growing strip mall storefront shops.

Opponents of the proposed ban by bill sponsor Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, said the more than 1,500 businesses collectively employ more than 13,000 in the state.

Plakon said the bill wouldnt force a business to close, noting that many of the businesses that are advertised as Internet cafes could provide the services that Internet cafes provide in other parts of the world: a place to get coffee and online access to the Internet.

The ban has been supported by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Sheriffs Association.

The Senate bill, SB 380, would require the businesses to register with the state. As 2012 began, a little more than 10 of the businesses were registered with the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs.

The bill would also require each cafe to pay an annual $100 fee for each terminal, which is estimated to generate $4 million to the state.

A typical cafe allows customers to buy time on slot machine-style games deemed sweepstakes games. The customers compete for credit, which can be redeemed for cash.