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Published Monday, September 19, 2011 in Local
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This internet cafe, located off Hwy. 29 south of Newnan, was shut down in April and 21 gaming stations were confiscated.
Newnan extends its internet cafe ban to 12 months
The Newnan Times-Herald
Newnan has extended a moratorium on Internet/sweepstakes cafes -- giving the Georgia legislature time to take action on regulating the establishments.
The city council originally implemented a moratorium about six months ago. The council now has extended that moratorium for 12 months.
In some areas, district attorneys or police agencies have taken legal action against sweepstakes cafes as violators of the state's laws on gambling.
Newnan City Attorney Brad Sears said legislators worked on the issue in the 2011 session. "The bill was forwarded to committee. It will be coming up in January," Sears said.
The city council approved a 12-month extension to the moratorium at its meeting last week. "That gets us beyond the legislature to see what they're going to do," Sears said.
Sears said he believes current city ordinances would not allow someone to get a license for such a business. He explained he wanted "to put the moratorium in place to be sure." The council's vote prohibits the issuance of permits, occupational tax permits or licenses to internet/sweepstakes cafes.
The cafes, which offer gambling type games, have encountered problems in Coweta and Fayette counties.
Timmy Millikin of Laurinburg, N.C., was arrested at Internet Cafe on U.S. 29 south of Newnan on April 22. He was charged with commercial gambling and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was reportedly living at the commercial establishment -- sleeping on an air mattress.
Authorities seized 21 computer gaming stations and $3,800 in cash in the raid.
Major James Yarbrough of the Coweta County Sheriff's Office commented on the operations of the business in April. "They claim its a sweepstakes, but if you make money, you can cash in," he said. "That is gambling."
Fayette County authorities did similar raids of alleged gambling operations in Tyrone and Peachtree City. On May 20, members of the Peachtree City Police Department, Tyrone Police Department and Georgia Department of Revenue executed a total of 30 arrest warrants and five search warrants at several convenience stores and one bar within Peachtree City and Tyrone.
Several Newnan residents were arrested in "Operation Game Over." The May sting followed an undercover operation that began in February after complaints of gambling at several establishments were received by Fayette police agencies.
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Just a thought but what's the difference between government gambling and free enterprise gambling? I think no such law should be written to allow the government to engage in anything that is outlawed for free enterprise.
Posted by Roy Knox at 1:38 PM
The fact is porn is legal and gambling is not. How hard is that to figure out. if you don't like porn don't go to store. If you like to gamble be careful you just might get caught it's a crime.
Posted by Coweta Resident at 7:48 PM
The lottery doesn't like competition.
Posted by Newt Maxwell at 3:10 PM
They should just legalize gambling. Definitely silly to ban internet cafes over the possibility that people might be gambling online. Although I can't see how this area could support an internet cafe anyway. Other than tourist areas they hardly serve a purpse. Except gambling apparently.
Posted by AP at 2:00 PM
people spending their own money gambling?!? What is the world coming to.
Posted by richard at 5:13 AM
...from news reports in The Times Herald, I read that it could possibly be a 'cover operation' for illegal gambling. (Internet / sweepstakes cafes) - not an actual Starbucks or a Coffe House. Hope that helps with clarification.
Posted by Coweta parent at 11:44 PM
Please educate me,,, why is there an internet cafe ban?
I can't think of a thing that is negative with it???
Is it not the same as going to a Starbucks and surfing their internet???
Did I miss something???
Posted by Huh??? at 10:03 PM
That stupid question has been answered repeatedly. The state of Georgia sponsors it like a tax on stupid people. Commerical gambling is still illegal in the state of Georgia.
Posted by Peachy at 9:12 PM
Maybe we need to elect the city officials to the County government to rid us of our porn store.
Posted by gloria wilson at 8:01 PM
at least they left the porn store alone! We wouldn't want anything as unklassy as an internet cafe in town! And as for "gambling," what do you call the lottery??
Posted by Psh! at 3:10 PM
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gambling shutdown
9/26/2011
Link To This Comment
They are not trying to stop the illegal gambling conducted from this County through the Internet. They are stopping people from setting up "establishments", that enable those who are too poor or stupid to aquire a computer and an Internet connection from which to engage in illegal gambling.
Posted by Scott Lunsford at 5:18 PM