Ohio Bill To Crack Down On Internet Cafes Goes To GovernorState Getting Tougher On Illegal Gambling Now That It Has Casinos |
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The state of Ohio is one step closer to clamping down on unauthorized internet cafes.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, House Bill 7 is “designed to shut down Internet cafes in Ohio by limiting payouts from sweepstakes machines to $10. [Some] have argued that the more than 600 storefronts operating throughout Ohio are conducting illegal gambling operations.”
“To me, the question is a pretty simple one. Do we want statewide gambling in Ohio, and did voters ever authorize statewide gambling in Ohio?” Sen. Larry Obhof, R-Medina said. “I think the answer to each of those questions is no.”
Ohio is home to four commercial casinos. The first came to Cleveland more than a year ago, and now casinos exist in Columbus, Cincinnati and Toldeo. A second phase of the Cleveland property is in the works (it’s basically like a brand new casino), but there’s no official word on when that construction could be underway.
The bill is in the hands of Gov. John Kasich, who reportedly will definitely sign it.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, cafe operators and software providers could try to nix the governor’s signature by a vote on the ballot in November 2014. It’s not expected to gain enough traction for a referendum, however. Supporters of internet cafes said that the state should regulate them, rather than shut them down.
For more news from Ohio, check out its state page.
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