COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The late submission of more than 100
affidavits increases the count of Ohio Internet cafes or "sweepstakes"
businesses to more than 770.
The state originally estimated there
were fewer than 300 of the largely unregulated businesses, which offer
games functioning like slot machines with cash prizes. Customers pay for
Internet time or phone cards and use them to bet points on computers
loaded with games such as poker.
A law that created a one-year
moratorium on new Internet cafes required the businesses to submit
affidavits confirming they exist.
Attorney General Mike DeWine
says records submitted after the deadline raised the count to 772. His
office is concerned some are from facilities not currently in operation
that may try to skirt the law.
DeWine is pushing to regulate the businesses more.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The late submission of more than 100
affidavits increases the count of Ohio Internet cafes or "sweepstakes"
businesses to more than 770.
The state originally estimated there
were fewer than 300 of the largely unregulated businesses, which offer
games functioning like slot machines with cash prizes. Customers pay for
Internet time or phone cards and use them to bet points on computers
loaded with games such as poker.
A law that created a one-year
moratorium on new Internet cafes required the businesses to submit
affidavits confirming they exist.
Attorney General Mike DeWine
says records submitted after the deadline raised the count to 772. His
office is concerned some are from facilities not currently in operation
that may try to skirt the law.
DeWine is pushing to regulate the businesses more.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.