Florida Internet cafes offering phone card/slot machine promotions

[The Buzz]

So there are a series of Internet cafes in Orlando that sell phone cards. With each sale, the cafe give away points that can be used on slot machine devices.

Sounds like some of the people buying them are using them only to gamble and actually had no idea that the cards could be used to make phone calls.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...,5691226.story

Buzzy sets the over/under on how long this operation continues before the state shuts it down at 6 weeks.

[ntaus]

I hadn't heard about that particular twist.

However, I did want to mention that, although we suddenly have a proliferation of arcades where you play for tickets entitling you to merchandise at major stores, there's no sign of saturation. More are opening every day and, judging by the number of cars in the overtaxed parking lots, it doesn't matter how many there are, they're busy.

Florida is more than ready for a change in state legislation regarding gambling.

Keeping an eye on Miami which wants to set up a casino and may just win the right to do that in view of the change in state governors. Bush is gone - hooray

ntaus

[big fish]

i live in the orlando area and would love to see them legalize land based casinos in this state. then orlando could become an even bigger destination by offering disney for kids and gambling for adults... that would be great for the economy so i am all for it. plus i could go play some blackjack from time to time whish is not half bad either. now back to the cards, i have not seen them yet, but now i'll be on the lookout

[rob3786]

Japan intorduced slots on cash dispensers so when waiting you can spin to win bank your bank charge and 888 are setting up deal for in flight gaming and now this. Great news for the gaming market.

[gordonprice1947]

We have three writers in Florida and they follow the Florida laws thoroughly. The real interesting thing we are watching in that state is the deadline the governor faces with Indian tribes to allow table gaming. The Seminoles filed a federal lawsuit claming that the new law that allows Vegas style slots should also allow table games. The federal suit concluded that if a deal is not made within 60 days then the Seminoles will by default get full gaming including tables. Crist, the governor, does not want to be soft on gambling so he doesn't want to allow table games, however, if he makes no deal his state will not see any of the proceeds from the Seminoles when they go to full gaming.

In May Crist released the following statement...

"If I were to decide not to negotiate with the Seminoles, more than likely the Department of Interior would do so directly. And the effect of that would be that we couldn't negotiate for any of the resources, the monies, to come to the state to be used for the people as a whole. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me. So, I have indicated I am willing to negotiate, and we have actually begun [the process] now. My chief of staff, George LeMieux, who grew up in Fort Lauderdale, is heading that up ... so that is moving forward."

Since then there has been no reports of Crist coming close to a deal with the Seminoles and the 60 day deadline is up in a couple weeks.

[gordonprice1947]

Ironically, one of our writers wrote more on the topic of gambling in Florida today, having to do with the poker rooms in the Indian casinos in South Florida, along with the Seminoles deal with Crist that I spoke about in my last post. Anyway here is a link to the article for those who are interested.

http://www.casinogamblingweb.com/gam...da__46831.html

[ntaus]

Thank you for the link, gordonprice.

I'm very interested in the state of gambling in Florida. Can't wait for the day when I can put a sign on my car...I believe it's going to happen.

ntaus