The Permanent Joint Committee on Gaming and Wagering plans to take a closer look at all gaming operations in Ohio, including casinos, racetrack VLTs, charitable gambling and Internet cafes to see how the sweepstakes cafes fit into the big picture of gambling in the state. They hope to make a recommendation before the summer recess.

The committee was created in 2010, but they will be having their first public meeting, possibly this month. The House has already passed HB7, which would in essence ban sweepstakes cafes by prohibiting cash prizes and removing the economic incentive from the operations. The Senate would like to reach a decision on sweepstakes cafes by the end of 2013.