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City of Jacksonville may support lawsuit to shut down local internet cafes

The City of Jacksonville may be getting involved in the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s attempt to shut down several Jacksonville internet cafes.

The attorney for the Seminole Tribe tells Action News Jax city attorneys told him they plan to file a motion intervening on behalf of the Tribe’s lawsuit against the businesses.

Action News Jax is working to confirm this with the city’s Office of General Counsel.

The lawsuit, filed against more than 20 internet café operators, claims they “knowingly permit unlawful gambling.”

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has a contract to have exclusive rights to casino style gambling.

An Action News Jax investigation in November revealed that more internet cafes are popping up after being banned several years ago.

They often have what the state considers illegal slot machines.

We went by several of the locations mentioned in the lawsuit.

Employees had no comment or any knowledge of the lawsuit.

One of the internet café operators filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, because among other reasons, the complaint “does not allege the nature and extent of the alleged unlawful gambling.”