The crackdown in Florida, US, against gambling locations masquerading as ‘sweepstakes cafes’ may have worked but it also damaged traditional arcades - however, reports suggest that as many as 40 arcade locations have re-opened following their forced closure in April.
The new anti-sweepstakes cafes law is being overcome by genuine operators offering retro-fitted coin-operated gaming devices and restricting the prizes. The law clamped down on the internet locations by banning arcades from offering gift cards and prizes valued at more than 75 cents. This kept the internet/sweepstakes cafes out of high streets, but it also hit the genuine amusement centres. According to one Florida newspaper, arcades have managed to re-open by offering smaller prizes to get under the new limits. "Patrons once purchased credits at the counter, slid their players' cards into the machines and wagered about 8¢ per spin. If they accumulated enough points, they could turn them in for gift cards. Now, to comply with the new law, they can play only using dollar coins." They can only credit machines with coins because of Florida's new gaming law prohibits the use of payment systems, on certain games, accepting banknotes, credit/debit cards and multifunctional smart cards (which might be used by a Dave & Buster's or family entertainment centre). When Governor Rick Scott signed the bill banning Internet cafés, there were only about 220 adult arcades in Florida, compared with more than 1,000 storefront sweepstakes cafés the law targeted. Adult arcades have been around since 1984, peaking at about 350, and reportedly operated legally under the so-called "Chuck E. Cheese law," which allows players to win prizes in games of skill.
