JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – City Council members have expressed concern about the rise of internet cafes in Jacksonville, saying they want to investigate the comeback, as the I-TEAM has been doing.
The facilities have been deemed illegal gambling by the state, which executed a crackdown on the popular but often criticized businesses.
“I would like to see all of them shut down if they are truly... illegal,” Councilman Garrett Dennis said.
But trying to decide whether the gaming cafes are legit is the problem.
Raid after raid and arrest after arrest have ended with no clear answers on whether the game rooms, which pay out cash to their winners, are illegal.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office released a statement Monday about the internet cafe question:
We continue to follow up on all complaints and investigate. If there is evidence of law infractions, we would take that to the State Attorney to evaluate for potential prosecution."
The State Attorney's Office said it had no information to provide on the prosecution of any internet cafes. The State Attorney General's Office said the issue is a local one, and until the cafes cross county lines, that office would not be involved.
The games are no longer inspected by the city like they once were, and despite repeated raids, the cafes seem to reopen without anyone being prosecuted.
The owners of the cafes remained tight-lipped Monday, declining requests for comment about their operations, several of which have popped up in a row along Blanding Boulevard.
One female customer told the I-TEAM that she knows she's gambling at the cafes, but that it’s her choice and she is glad they are being left alone for now.
City officials said they process quite a few business application for the cafes every day, and they are gathering more information on the number of permits issued so far this year.
They said they issue permits to operate relying on owners to fill out the applications truthfully.
Local tax documents on 42 internet cafés show the equipment is taxed like a vending machine and the cost varies based on the number of devices the cafe has on site.
Dennis admitted that going after the cafes could be costly because of the growing numbers now operating in the city.
“Each one of these facilities will have to be investigated on a case-by-case basis before they can be prosecuted,” Dennis said.
The City Council will be meeting to decide the next steps to take, but a date hasn't been set yet.