Senate Committee: Regulate, Instead of Ban, Internet Cafes

Submitted by Anonymous on January 19, 2012 - 2:14pm

Senate Regulated Industries favored Thursday, by an 8-1 vote, regulation rather than a prohibition of Internet cafes as a House committee supported earlier in the week.

These regulations were proposing make it really, really clear, said Sen. Miguel Diaz de La Portilla, R-Coral Gables. These games and these terminals are for amusement only.

Currently, just over 10 of the more than 1,000 business are registered with the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. Under Diaz de La Portillas bill, SB 380, every business would have to register with the state agency.

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.

The committee approved similar language last week as part of the destination gaming bill that would establish a statewide gaming commission and allow three mega-casinos in South Florida.

Supporters of the ban said the cafes are entertainment for seniors.

Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, voted against the bill as he did the destination gaming bill. Thrasher called both bills a "major" expansion of gambling in Florida.

Law enforcement officials call the registration effort "amnesty" from the state's prohibition on slot machines in all but Miami-Dade and Broward counties as part of the $250 million-plus a year Seminole Tribe compact.

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.

Another bill that was expected to go before the committee on Thursday, SB 428, by Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Gainesville, was pulled prior to the vote. Oelrichs bill would have banned the cafes, that have been estimated to employ 1,300 Floridians.

On Tuesday, the House Business and Consumer Affairs Committee approved by a 10-5 vote HB 3, which would ban the cafes.

The ban is supported by Gov. Rick Scott, the Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Chamber of Commerce and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

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