A prominent senator said Monday he will file a bill placing a moratorium on Internet cafes — a measure that could become the only major legislation dealing with gambling to be heard by the Legislature this year.
The comments from Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, came near the end of what is expected to be the final meeting of the Senate Gaming Committee until at least the end of the legislative session. Thrasher was responding to concerns among some lawmakers that the issue of Internet cafes might not be addressed in the session that begins March 5.
“There will be a bill that places a moratorium on Internet cafes for this year for consideration,” said Thrasher, who chairs the powerful Senate Rules Committee.
Legislators grappled with the issue of Internet cafes, which critics argue are illegal games similar to slot machines, in 2012 but were unable to come to an agreement. Some lawmakers want the businesses banned altogether; others simply want to regulate them.
The industry says it offers computerized versions of legal sweepstakes.
It wasn’t clear how wide-ranging Thrasher’s moratorium would be; he didn’t elaborate on the proposal at the committee meeting and didn’t immediately return a message left at his office seeking comment.
The Coalition of Internet Cafes, an industry group, reacted cautiously to the statement.
“From the beginning, we have advocated for increased regulation over an outright ban, agreed that technology has outpaced current law and that there may be some bad operators in the industry,” spokeswoman Sarah Bascom said in a statement. “Depending upon exact details of a proposed moratorium bill, if it allows for existing law abiding operators and employers to continue in their existing capacity, we believe our coalition will support legislation along these lines.”
Thrasher’s bill could be the only one dealing with gambling to be seriously considered by lawmakers. Legislative leaders have indicated that they want to put off dealing with most of the issues — including whether to allow casino-style “destination resorts” in Florida — until the 2014 legislative session.
Senate Gaming Committee Chairman Garrett Richter, R-Naples, told lawmakers that the panel would commission a study and then spend time gathering public input, perhaps at a handful of hearings across the state.
“This is probably going to be the last time we meet this session,” Richter said.
That would also presumably cut off consideration of most gambling legislation, like a bill to allow pari-mutuel facilities to stop running dog races, which lose money, but continue to offer profitable games like poker.
Even Sen. Maria Sachs, a Delray Beach Democrat who has sponsored similar legislation in the past, said it would have to wait for the broader gambling discussion.
“I wish we could do it this year,” she said. “But we can’t.”
by Brandon Larrabee
I am one of hundreds of seniors who love going to Internet Cafes. It’s a lot of fun for us; a place we can go alone, and a place to meet friends. The ridiculous laws which allow them in one place and not in another are edging on insanity I think. Are we also going to look at bingo games as evil. I will tell you one thing; if we open a casino in Orlando, the visitors from the UK will love it. They are accustomed to playing gaming machines in bars, and enjoy that type of entertainment.