As of Thursday, August 18, 2011
© Copyright 2013
Albany Herald
Governor Nathan Deal stands with state government officials to announce a plan to crack down on Internet gambling cafes.
ATLANTA -- Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal ordered state authorities to crack down on illegal gambling dens masquerading as Internet cafes.
Deal said Thursday that there are already between 50 to 100 active online gambling operations in Georgia and that investigators believe firms are planning a "massive expansion" with hundreds of new outlets. He said the firms are "spreading the impression that the thwarting of the laws would be winked at."
Locally, the Albany City Commission voted Tuesday to place a moratorium on granting new business licenses to the operations out of a concern that the businesses may be circumventing Georgia's gambling laws.
The governor ordered the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies to strictly enforce Georgia's gambling ban, which he said extends to online gaming and Internet sweepstakes parlors.
GBI Director Vernon Keenan estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars are already being spent in these cafes each year. Keenan called it a "new twist in commercial gambling."
More like this story
- City halts more ‘gambling cafes’ ( August 23, 2011 )
- Albany commission votes to extend moratoriums on Internet cafes and event centers ( December 13, 2011 )
- Florida lieutenant governor resigns in gambling probe ( March 14, 2013 )
- Gov. Deal says no to casinos ( October 28, 2011 )
- City freezes licenses for 'Internet Sweepstakes' cafes ( August 17, 2011 )
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