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Internet caf regulations head to city council vote
YOUNGSTOWN
City council’s safety committee agrees with proposed changes made by the law department to its policy regulating Internet gaming caf s and sweepstakes businesses.
Council could vote on the proposal as early as next Wednesday, said Councilman John R. Swierz, D-7th, who sponsored the legislation and sits on the safety committee. The safety committee met Tuesday to discuss the proposed changes.
“The amendments will answer a lot of the questions when the state changes the law” to regulate these businesses, Swierz said.
An Internet caf permits customers to buy Internet time and go on websites to play sweepstakes games of chance. Those who win the games receive money or prizes.
Mayor Jay Williams vetoed changes to this policy on March 21. It was his first veto as mayor, a position he’s held since January 2006.
The primary reasons were the city law likely would conflict with possible state law on these businesses, and the city law didn’t shield it from “liability and litigation should conflict arise” over restrictions and licensing policies the state Legislature could consider for sweepstakes and skill-based games, Williams said.
The amended proposal would require those owning, operating and/or managing such operations to:
Provide an affidavit to the city disclosing the names of all principals in the business.
Submit to a background check, paid by the applicant, to verify they aren’t prohibited from owning these businesses. A person convicted of a felony as well as certain misdemeanors, such as those involving fraud or dishonesty, isn’t permitted to own these businesses under city law. Also, language was added stating a city license to operate these businesses doesn’t protect operators from complying with state law.
Swierz reminded Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello on Tuesday that the mayor wanted the policy to include a clause that wouldn’t hold the city responsible if state law restricts the number of machines at gaming caf s. The law director included the language in the proposed legislation.