TALLAHASSEE, Fla.(WTXL) — Three people were arrested after police say community tips led them to discover an illegal gambling operation at a Tallahassee internet café.
- Internet cafes offer slot-machine-style games on a computer, but the difference between these places and a real casino is that no money is exchanged – only points that build up. But once the internet cafe does payout in cash, it becomes illegal gambling and violates state law.
- But the Michigan Attorney General’s office, which brought the charges, argued the games turned the cafes into illegal casinos. Convicted Internet cafes owner insists there was no gambling.
Internet Sweepstakes (illegal gambling) Cafes: In recent years, thousands of 'Internet sweepstakes cafes' have sprung up in storefronts, gas stations and convenience stores in more than a dozen. A cyber cafe in Santa Ana, Calif., was raided as part of an illegal gambling investigation. (Santa Ana Police Department) This marks the second time in the past seven months that an illegal gambling ring was busted at a Santa Ana internet cafe.
Members of the Tallahassee Police Department’s Special Investigations Section served a search warrant on an Internet café located at 1164 Capital Circle Southeast on Tuesday.
TPD says this is the latest in ongoing efforts to combat these illegal gambling operations in Tallahassee.
Investigators opened the inquiry acting on tips from the community that felt these cafés were damaging the quality of life in their neighborhood. There's a restaurant and a daycare on either side of the internet cafe.
While executing the search warrant at the business, named the “Fun Arcade,” investigators arrested the on-duty employee and two patrons and seized $3,300 and five computers.
Based on the evidence, 22-year-old Alaysja Burnley, 73-year-old Catherine Norton and 57-year-old Verdell Hall were arrested.
Norton and Hall are being charged with gambling and were given notices to appear in court after being released from the scene.
Burnley is facing several charges including of maintaining a gambling house, grand theft and fraudulent use of credit card. In addition, police say the employee was on probation and had five outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court.
The crackdown is a part of the department's mission to improve the quality of life in the area.
'Not a good idea to have anything illegal,' said Undraua Thompson with Early Years Childcare Development.
She admits she was suspicious about the plaza next door, including Fun Arcade.
'People walking up and down the street, smoking a lot,' Thompson said. 'That's not good for the kids.'
People at the daycare couldn't be happier to see the place shut down.
'We made sure it didn't make the kids uncomfortable because we kept them out of view as much as possible but, in the playground in the back, they can see over the fence and walk by there,' said Thompson. 'Hearing the conversations that people were having. That wasn't good.'
TPD wants landlords and property managers to know that it is illegal to knowingly rent or lease property for the purposes of gambling.
Illegal Gambling Internet Cafe Near Me
TPD made arrests for gambling at internet cafes in March, leading to three places shutting down including one less than a quarter-mile from Fun Arcade.
Internet café shut down for alleged illegal gambling
SPRING HILL FLORIDA – It’s game over for the owners of an internet café engaged in illegal gambling, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators say the business was giving out cash payments to customers for their winnings. Illegal gambling is a problem that officials say is becoming more common.
But customers who frequent Butter’s Place in Spring Hill say it’s the kind of place most people go to for a good time.
Internet cafes offer slot-machine-style games on a computer, but the difference between these places and a real casino is that no money is exchanged – only points that build up.
But once the internet cafe does payout in cash, it becomes illegal gambling and violates state law. It’s what Butter’s Place is accused of doing, but some who patronized the business disagree with shutting it down.
“If they can have all these things for the men along the whole highway here why can’t they have this for the senior citizens,” said former customer Donna Bayshore.
HCSO officials explain the business had been at the center of an undercover operation. They say it’s the second time deputies have had to raid and then close down the internet cafe for illegal activity.
“We’re not just there to ruin their fun we’re there to uphold the law,” said HCSO Sgt. Scott Lamia. “On the inside, it looks like all fun and games but there’s a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes that are illegal money laundering, fraud.”
Over the past several years officials say they’ve closed around a half dozen businesses for giving illegal payouts.
“They can’t give money out they can’t even give gift cards out,” said former internet café owner Terry Kasberg.
Kasberg used to own an internet cafe in spring hill and says his business never paid anyone in cash. He thinks the state could do better at making sure illegal shops don’t pop up at all.
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“Regulate them, charge a fee, permits and make some money on these things because the seniors love these places,” said Kasberg.
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