FL House Votes To Ban Online Gaming Businesses

Collateral damage from a political scandal

MIAMI — This time Lady Luck went against the "house," at least for those Florida gambling venues that run virtual games.

The state House of Representatives voted today to ban electronic Internet gaming that's been played in an estimated 1,000 Internet cafes and adult arcades throughout the state. It could be the death knell for those neighborhood casinos that have grossed an estimated $1 billion annually if the Senate concurs.

Last year the House passed a similar bill to ban them, but the measure never reached the Senate floor.

"The Internet cafes have been under attack before, but the recent scandal involving Lt. Gov. (Jennifer) Carroll, which led to her resignation, just threw more fuel on the fire," said Robert M. Jarvis, law professor at Nova Southeastern University Law Center.