the big deal u can this is a lot of time and money wasted over something that doesn't cause anyone any harm., When the Sheriff's Office Pinellas County raided and shut down three Internet cafes in sweepstakes July - but made no arrests - who admitted to the Florida law on the cases is unclear. "That's a little issue," said spokeswoman Marianne Pasha Sheriff's Office. "We are working with a state problem that is not exactly black and white. There are a lot of gray."
The game is clearly illegal, except in certain specific situations, the laws of Florida. However, Chapter 849, Florida Statutes, does not specify whether the purchase of time on a computer and then play a game of casino-style cash prizes of such equipment is technically the game.
Because of this, some law enforcement agencies throughout Florida are enforcing gambling laws against the cafes, while others are not.
Senator Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey) agrees that the law is ambiguous. "That puts the police in an awkward position, and it's up to the legislature of what direction to take," said Fasano.
During the last legislative session, Fasano tried to pass a law that would have allowed the lottery to Internet cafes to operate, but also to be regulated by the state.
The bill was not finally approved by a number of reasons including the fact that the sponsor in the House of Representatives, Rep. Peter Nehr (R-Palm Harbor), decided at the last minute not to present the bill, Fasano said.
Fasano said he knew at the time that the representative Nehr owned an internet cafe in the draw of the Pinellas County. Nehr has since sold coffee, but told the St. Pete Times that he believes the internet cafe sweepstakes are legal.
Nehr The representative did not return phone calls on Thursday or Friday.
A spokesman for the Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has responded to a request asking for clarification of state law, the management of ABC News action for an opinion by former Attorney General Bill McCollum of Florida.
The summary of opinion states "the final determination of whether the laws of Florida the game may have been violated must be made by local agencies of law enforcement."
The opinion does not add clarity to the state law, so Fasano has plans to introduce its back during the next legislative session.
