JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Steps are being taken right now to ban Internet cafes. Some of those who are against them are calling them illegal gambling establishments.
Today, the House Select Committee on Gaming took a step toward banning internet cafes. The committee voted 15-1 on a bill that would clarify how slot machines could be used at Internet cafés, essentially outlawing the facilities.
State Senator John Thrasher sponsored the bill.
"I have objected to them for a long time. I will continue to object to them and I'm hopeful we're going to have a Committee meeting on Monday where we hopefully pass a bill out of that gaming committee that will actually prohibit Internet cafes," said Thrasher. "From the standpoint of the enterprise itself, it needs to be stopped and we're going to do our best in the Florida legislature to make sure that happens."
The bill still needs to clear the rules committee before heading to the floor. But legislative leaders say it's on a fast track for a quick floor vote, possibly next week.
