The internet sweepstakes cafes have gone mainstream in the gambling business. However, there is a discussion whether they shall be considered as actually a matter of 'gambling'. The way they are often organized in constitutes a pre-paid service. Duck Hunter Sweepstakes. CMC Gaming Systems is proud to announce the conversion of one of our most popular 5 reel games from the Class II markets to the sweepstakes market. This sweepstakes revealing game features a unique 5 symbol semi-wild system. Matching any combinations of 3, 4 or 5 of any of the 5 different duck symbols on a pay line wins. Regulating video gaming and gambling of one sort or another has vexed state and local governments in North Carolina for the better part of two decades. A recent court opinion held the current version of the state’s ban on internet sweepstakes to be unconstitutional, violating First Amendment rights to free speech. Lawful internet cafe gambling advocates also oppose the cafes on the basis that they are unregulated. Among other factors, they claim that the internet sweepstakes cafe games invade the business of state-run lotteries. Certified gambling, thereby decreasing the supposed advantages to government programs that receive a part of legal gambling money.

Internet Sweepstake cafes have been popping up in towns all over America and they can easily be mistaken for slot machine gambling lounges, but what actually are they?

How does it work?

Unlike the traditional slot machine, players do not directly deposit money into the sweepstakes machine. Players who enter one of the cafes purchase internet time, which gives them free entries into the sweepstakes games, or sweepstakes points, depending on the cafe. There is a variety of games to choose from, and different games will require a different number of entries or points. Players play the games to reveal whether or not they have won a prize. Players may also opt out of the games and have the computer simply reveal whether or not they have won a prize.

Are They Legal?

The most important difference between playing at an Internet Sweepstakes Cafe and a Casino is that there is no skill required, and it is not classified as a game of chance. Your skill at poker will not affect whether or not you get a prize. And unlike slot machines, there is no chance. Slot machines are set to pay out a certain percentage of the money they make, with no restrictions on how much, or how often. Internet Sweepstakes Cafes have sweepstakes periods where there is a predetermined number of prizes for predetermined amounts. When all the prizes have been won in a specific period, a new sweepstakes period begins.

This is a point of much controversy, as many people believe it is still gambling. Sweepstakes are offered in stores, workplaces, and restaurants all the time. These different sweepstakes do not make a profit they are simply a way of drawing in customers attention via giveaways. Internet Sweepstakes Cafes earn a profit and because they are not considered gambling they are not regulated to ensure fair odds.

Is it a scam?

Internet Sweepstakes Cafes deliberately skirt the banning of gambling in certain states, by both definition of gambling and the fact that the games are hosted online. Online gambling is not banned in the same way that video machine gambling is. But this careful sidestepping of the law does not make Internet Sweepstakes Cafes a scam. As always, when it comes to their money consumers should be very cautious. While the business is lucrative and popular, there will always be people who take advantage of others. Internet Sweepstakes Cafes can be found in even the poorest of neighborhoods, preying on the hopes of people who need the money desperately.

When it comes to any form of gambling, players should not bet more than they can afford to lose. There is no guaranteed payout or easy win. Internet Sweepstakes Cafes are not regulated, and there have been instances where obscure rules or out of just plain greed winners were not paid out their full winnings.

With deadline approaching, internet cafes, sweepstakes face tough choices

Published 7:36 pm Friday, June 28, 2019

Internet Sweepstakes Cafe Gambling Money

The clock is ticking for 25 local internet cafes and sweepstakes businesses that were served cease and desist letters by 2nd Judicial District Attorney Seth Edwards this week. Faced with an ultimatum — close down or face criminal charges — the owners of these businesses will face difficult choices in the weeks to come.

NOT ALL THE SAME

While the DA’s actions are all encompassing for sweepstakes and internet cafes in the 2nd Judicial District, one of the business owners, Connie Langley, disagrees with Edwards’ views that sweepstakes and internet cafes inherently attract violent crime.

In the four years since Langley opened Pirates Loot, an internet café on U.S. Highway 264 near the Pitt County line, the business owner says she has only had to call law enforcement on one occasion — following a string of “hole-in-the-wall” burglaries that targeted business throughout eastern North Carolina a few years ago.

Other than that one occasion, Langley says she has never had any trouble at the site. On the contrary, she says the business has allowed her to give back to the community in a number of ways, from donating to local schools to collecting for Hurricane Florence victims.

Overall, she feels as though her business is being unfairly punished for the bad business practices of others, some of which she says allow their patrons to get out of hand and only care about taking money out of the community.

“It’s very disheartening that this is happening,” Langley said. “But I’m doing my research, my attorney is on it, and I’m going to try to figure out a way to stay alive until the actual ruling is made in the State of North Carolina, because they flip-flop so much. There are bills in the (N.C.) House right now that are trying to regulate us, and I don’t want to give up and then have them come back six months from now and say that we can open back up under those terms.”

As for the immediate question of what to do with the machines at Pirates Loot, Langley says she, for one will comply with the cease and desist letter.

“Next week, I’m going to empty this building, and I’m going to put something in here that I know is in compliance with every law, so that there is no question whatsoever about it,” Langley said. “But I will be letting the police department know what I’m doing before I do it. … I’m not trying to go against you, but I’m trying to save my business, and I’m not willing to just throw the towel in.”

At Players Vape, the one location cited in a press release from the DA, store employees say the business should not be viewed as a sweepstakes.

“We’re actually not a sweepstakes location,” said store manager Rose Vaughan. “We don’t have any type of sweepstakes machines in here, no fishing tables, nothing like that. We solely specialize in just vaporizer devices and e-liquid.”

In late March, Players Vape was the scene of a fatal shooting, during which a store employee shot and killed an armed robber at the location. According to police, the location had been successfully robbed only a few weeks earlier.

While he did not confirm whether his firm would be representing any of the businesses served, attorney William Brian, with the Morningstar Law Group, argued that actions taken by DAs and law enforcement throughout the state are designed to protect what he calls an “unconstitutional monopoly” on games of chance through the state lottery. Attorneys from Morningstar recently represented Players Vape during a zoning dispute with the City of Washington.

“The State of North Carolina holds an unconstitutional monopoly on businesses which offer games of chance which is takes advantage of by operating the State Lottery,” Brian wrote in an email. “The State enforces its monopoly through armed forces like the ALE, through the offices of the District Attorneys and through the office of the Attorney General. There is nothing moral or even lawful about the way the State employs these forces. Like the organized crime interests they purport to despise, the armed forces of the State intimidate, raid, and otherwise seek to eliminate small businesses which are doing nothing more dangerous than competing with the State Lottery.”

Attempts to reach other businesses served with letters were unsuccessful as of press time.

AN ISSUE OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Earlier this week, Edwards accompanied North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents to each of the 25 locations to serve the cease and desist letters — nine in Beaufort County, seven in Martin County, five in Washington County, two in Tyrrell County and two in Hyde County.

Internet Sweepstakes Cafe Gambling

In the letters, the businesses were given seven days to cease operation or face criminal charges related to gambling and sweepstakes operations. Electronic sweepstakes, video gaming and slot machines, including so-called “fish games,” were specifically cited.

“It’s one thing to lose an entire paycheck playing these illegal games,” said Edwards, “But it’s another to lose a life. This is no longer just a moral or ethical issue — it has become an issue of public safety and one that cannot be overlooked.”

As of Friday afternoon, Edwards said no charges had been filed yet, and that he had not yet heard from attorneys representing any of the business owners.

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