Sweepstakes ban passes Senate committee

Raleigh, N.C. — Legislation to ban so-called sweepstakes cafes in North Carolina passed a key committee Thursday morning and has gone to the full state Senate for a vote.

The games, which are sprouting up in strip malls and convenience stores across the state, sell players blocks of time to play games of chance on computers or cell phones. The odds are long, but players who win can get a cash payout.

The Senate is expected to vote on the ban proposal some time during this session. It would then have to be passed by the House of Representatives.

Sen Josh Stein, D-Wake, has said that he expects his colleagues will vote to outlaw the machines, but House Democrats can't find a consensus on the issue.

Opponents of the games, including some sheriffs and lawmakers, want them to be banned like video poker.

However, recent court rulings have determined that the businesses are legal. The gaming industry has proposed that it be regulated and taxed, and some municipal and county governments are taking zoning and taxation measures to control sweepstakes games.

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I say ban these machines.. Nothing but lies and deceptions. I was in one of these rooms last Friday (6/11/2010) I was told to go online and sign partitions to stop the ban... I refused; the truth to the matter is these parlors are hurting a lot of people.. I can’t stop playing. I have never played 1 or 2 hours on twenty dollars...I only play fifty cent….things done in the dark eventually comes to light...ban them

hambone21
June 18, 2010 11:56 a.m.

The sweepstakes is not the problem. Nclifelonggirl is right Snugglebunny. Teach your tenants how to pay their bills--evict them. That way they learn that there are consequences for their delinquency. People need consequences--not deprivations if you want them to ever improve. Your rational is the same as saying that collecting rent money should be illegal since it is obvious some tenants are too irresponsible to pay.

liveconnectquestions
June 18, 2010 9:57 a.m.

People with bad habits will not be cured if this is outlawed. The only was to teach responsibility is to let consequences for bad action teach it. The problem takes care of itself. If you are terrible about managing your money--you are not going to be able to pay your bills if this is outlawed. The sweepstakes is not the problem. You don't outlaw cars because bad drivers exist.

liveconnectquestions
June 18, 2010 9:48 a.m.

...If they are gonna ban sweepstakes because it's an addiction that people throw their life savings away for, then why do they sell alcohol in almost every store you go in? If they're gonna ban sweepstakes, then they need to ban all things that are addictive!! snugglebunny-you have tenants that don't pay rent-that's your fault, not the sweepstakes! You need to evict those people and find responsible adults. My husband manages a sweepstakes, and without his job, we won't be paying our rent either! They should tax them--then maybe I will get my raise that I haven't gotten for the last 2 years! I am a school bus driver, and us and the rest of the school employees are suffering because of the "state cutbacks", and taxing the sweepstakes may actually help us, as a whole, not to mention my family directly!! TAX THE SWEEPSTAKES!!! TAX THE SWEEPSTAKES!!!

nclifelonggirl
June 17, 2010 7:59 p.m.

i have 300$$ that i set aside,, saved , and worked for it,, a month,, so you , b4 i spell this word wrong,,you sanctimonious people who spends others $$$$$,, and , i do not get ss, or dss,i like to smoke , drink,, and gamble,, call me , what you want,, i , could care less , what you people do, unless u hurt my fam or friends,,

gregg45
June 17, 2010 7:29 p.m.