The Kentucky Senate has approved legislation that could shut down internet sweepstakes cafes in the Commonwealth. The computer based businesses give away chances to win monetary prizes with the purchase of a service or product.
Proponents of the bill say the games the businesses offer are equivalent to gambling. Bowling Green Senator Mike Wilson says the establishments in his town are impacting charitable groups. "It has taken away from, in Warren County, the revenue that comes from charitable gambling for our veterans' organizations," said Wilson.
The Senate approved the measure 35-0 on Thursday. Wilson says an attorney general opinion already states such computer based operations are illegal. The Bowling Green Senator says the measure was amended to ensure it didn't impact historic racing gambling. "Our goal is to make sure that this does not interfere in any way with instant racing, particularly because we know there's a court case pending on that," added Wilson.
Wilson says six internet sweepstakes cafes are located in Bowling Green. A café representative last week said sweepstakes related games are not the same as gambling.
