WKSU News: Ohio House votes to crack down on sweepstakes cafes

Wednesday, December 5, 2012 Ohio House votes to crack down on sweepstakes cafes Owners respond with a call to regulate the big guys; Senate votes next by WKSU's STATEHOUSE CORRESPONDENT BILL COHEN and AKILAH PORTER	Reporter Bill Cohen

In The Region:

The Ohio House has passed strict new limits on gaming at internet cafes.

The bill prohibits cash payouts and caps the values of prizes at the cafes, which are usually storefronts outfitted with video terminals that look like slot machines.

The limits passed by a vote of 63-30, at the urging of Attorney General Mike DeWine, who had warned the cafes are“ripe for organized crime” and money laundering.

But Robert Dabish, who operates some of the parlors, says the state is picking on the little guy.

DABISH on the perils of regulation

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The House bill must now go to the Senate for a vote before lawmakers head home for the holidays.

Earlier, the General Assembly put a moratorium on new cafes and required the roughly 800 existing ones to register.

Listener Comments:

they already made ours illegle in mich electeted officals are nothing more than pigs any more the casinos get any thing the little gets nothing anymore we elect people to make our lives bad we work for govt.they don t work for us anymore

Posted by: jerry (wyandotte mi) on March 15, 2013 2:03AM

I feel these places are just like Mcdonald's selling their sweepstakes, publisher's clearinghouse is selling their sweepstakes... If anything tax the winnings like they do at the casinos, mcdonalds, and other places that sell pre-paid calling cards... Why wipe out JOBS all together.. I am sure there is a resolution to this without causing people to suffer. It's winter and people have these jobs to pay their bills. at least its legal means of income... If people dont play responsibly at the casion, it's the customer's fault. People go to the casino and spend their ss checks...

Posted by: icare (toledo) on December 11, 2012 10:12AM

Just because Mike DeWine has a good paying job and doesn't care about the little people or how this will effect the economy other people do. He needs to think about how many people will be put out of work if these places close. Not only that how many elderly people come to these places to see friends and just get out of their apartment cause they can't go to the bigger one's but can come to these places. They are not all bad and ripe for crime as he says. Stop picking on the little people who do nothing wrong.

Posted by: trish on December 6, 2012 7:12AM

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