Fearing a “massive expansion” of online gambling across the state, Georgia’s governor, Nathan Deal has ordered his authorities to crack down on internet cafes. According to Deal, these establishments are a façade for illegal gambling dens, and authorities believe that hundreds more could be popping up around the state.
“Over the past several months there has been a strategic campaign of disinformation regarding this issue,” said Deal. “Today we are here united to send a clear message that we don’t want this industry here in the state of Georgia, and I’m directing the state’s resources to eliminate it from our communities.”
Many believe that it is Deal himself who sowed the seeds for the growth of these internet cafes when he chose to veto a bill that would have made online sweepstakes illegal in Georgia. This may have sent a message to online gambling groups that the state was not ready to take action against them, pushing them to go for a larger share of Georgia’s gambling market.
What bothers the governor even more is the fact that these illegal sweepstakes are direct competition to state lotteries which use their funds for good causes in Georgia. “It does hurt our lottery proceeds,” said Deal, “and that’s directly tied to the HOPE Scholarship program.”
Sweepstake organizers have come out against this crackdown, arguing that their brands are legal as players are not required to pay to enter a game. Instead, players pay for internet time or phone cards, which are used to bet points on computers.
However, the DA is taking a no-nonsense attitude to this line of argument. “If it quacks like a duck and it looks like a duck, it’s a duck,” said Attorney General Sam Olens. “And while the dark forces continue to come in our state and discourage prosecutors to take action, we’re here to tell Georgians we’re going to actively deal with this problem.”
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