The city of Lorain recently approved operating rules for its Internet cafes. One of the provisions prohibited serving alcohol. City Council is now considering the removal of that restriction so that veterans groups and ethnic clubs could use sweepstakes machines to help raise money. The Lorain Law Department has stated ... Read More

In May 2010, the Summit County Council passed an ordinance intended to regulate skill game arcades, Internet cafes and sweepstakes parlors in the county’s nine townships. The constitutionality of the legislation was challenged in court. A Common Pleas judge has ruled that the ordinance is constitutional and can be enforced, with ... Read More

The city of Lorain has decided it needs more time to study proposed regulations for Internet sweepstakes cafes. A two-hour meeting resulted in a split decision so the proposed regulations will be sent back to the mayor to pass along to the city law director for further review. Meanwhile, the whole ... Read More

The waters just became murkier in northeast Ohio. Two weeks after proposing tough new regulations, Cleveland City Council has placed a moratorium that bans these sweepstakes cafes from opening within the city. The change was triggered by a police raid on the Cyber House. Cleveland police reported that the games being ... Read More

Today, the Ohio Supreme Court unanimously upheld a $10 limit on the payout for games of skill. The Court found that this did not violate the equal protection clauses of the U.S. and Ohio Constitutions. The case was then sent back to the 10th District to consider the void-for-vagueness argument, ... Read More

Brook Park became the latest community to approve Internet sweepstakes cafes. They look like gambling, sound like gambling, but are not gambling. A Toledo judge agreed, ruling these Internet cafes are not gambling because the winnings are predetermined by computer. The Ohio Attorney General’s office is leaving the legality up ... Read More

As promised, Akron attorney Donald Malarcik has filed a lawsuit to have legislation regulating gaming parlors in Summit County’s townships declared unconstitutional. Legislation approved by Council last month was set to go in effect last week. However, a judge has granted a temporary injunction that blocks the legislation from taking ... Read More

As expected, Council passed legislation intended to provide greater oversight of Internet cafes and sweepstakes parlors in the county’s nine townships. The legislation will require each business to pay a $1,000 annual fee, as well as a $200 fee per machine, to be paid every six months. Businesses will also ... Read More

All felony charges have been dropped against a 63-year-old man accused of operating an illegal euchre tournament at an Akron social club. Norman D. Metz, the card tournament organizer, was to stand trial in Summit County Common Pleas Court on two felony counts of operating a gambling house and two ... Read More