Legislature Should Act NOW to ban internet gambling cafés

 

(Seminole County, FL) – Acting on a complaint initially filed in Seminole County by a World War II Veteran who had attended West Point – local, state and federal law enforcement officials began what ultimately became a multi-year, multi-state investigation, the first phase of which has resulted in criminal charges being filed against 57 individuals.  These individuals were tied to “Allied Veterans of the World” – whose claims of helping veterans were described by Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey as “a lie to our citizens and a lie to our veterans.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi also stated that warrants issued and facts revealed so far represent only the first wave of the investigation into illegal gambling at internet cafés in Florida.

“It is obvious to Florida Law enforcement and everyone else who has made an honest assessment of the issue – internet cafés are illegal gambling operations that need to be shut down once and for all,” said No Casinos President John Sowinski.

“Last year the Florida House of Representatives passed a bill to ban this scourge on our state – it is time for the Florida Senate to finally vote to ban internet cafés and for the House to once again vote to rid Florida of these shady operations that prey on those who can least afford to gamble.”