Raids for illegal gambling shut down three internet sweepstakes cafes in Pinellas County
Internet cafes shut down by sheriff's office
Photographer: Jeff Butera/abcactionnews.com
Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 07/15/2011
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. - The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office raided three internet sweepstakes cafés on Thursday, seizing about $20,000 and around 200 computers.
The three cafés are: Southern Play Arcade in unincorporated Largo, Reel Fun in Palm Harbor and Palm Harbor Internet Café in Palm Harbor.
Detectives received complaints about the businesses. After investigating, the sheriff’s office determined illegal gambling was taking place at the shops.
The cafés received warnings from the sheriff’s office that they should shut down or face an investigation. When they did not close voluntarily, authorities decided to execute search warrants, said Marianne Pasha, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.
At an internet café, people pay for time on a computer and play games on the computer. According to Pasha, if they play games of chance in which there is a prize involved, the sheriff believes that constitutes gambling and is a violation of the law.
No arrests were made following the raids. Instead, the information was forwarded to the state attorney, who will decide what to do next.
Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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