Attorney General Mike DeWine
Lawsuits close three Internet Cafes 

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today filed lawsuits against three internet cafes which failed to file affidavits of existence after a statewide moratorium went into effect in 2012. 

"While we suspect Ohio gambling laws are likely being violated at nearly all internet cafes in Ohio, the clearest illegal activity occurs when an establishment opens in violation of the statewide moratorium," said Attorney General DeWine. "My office will not hesitate to take actions to shutter these illegal establishments when evidence shows they did not exist prior to the moratorium."

Lawsuits were filed against: 

A.J.'s Sweepstakes, 1150 South Shannon Street, in Van Wert. (Filed in Van Wert County)

Lucky Sweepstakes, 475 East Linfoot Street, in Wauseon. (Filed in Fulton County, case number 13CV000103)

Winners Palace II, 1698 South Raccoon Road, in Austintown, and its operator Gino A. Maurizio. (Filed in Mahoning County, case number 13CV1168) 

In the course of verifying affidavits of existence filed by sweepstakes establishments as required by HB 386, agents from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation identified the locations as operating an internet café without having filed an affidavit. The statewide moratorium established by HB 386 prohibited new internet cafes from opening after June 11, 2012. Even if a sweepstakes establishment filed an affidavit, the moratorium would still be in effect if that establishment was not operating before that date. 

The violations alleged in the lawsuits include opening a new sweepstakes establishment in violation of the moratorium and failure to file an affidavit certifying existence. The lawsuit seeks to permanently enjoin the defendants from using sweepstakes terminal devices at locations in violation of the moratorium. Attorney General DeWine is also seeking a preliminary injunction to cease terminal operations while the lawsuit is pending. 

Over 820 affidavits were filed with the Ohio Attorney General's Office pursuant to HB 386. The affidavits represented 794 unique locations at which internet cafes were alleged to have existed. Subsequent verification by BCI in the past month has determined that 623 of those sites have an internet café currently operating. 

Attorney General DeWine is scheduled to testify today on HB 7, which would effectively ban sweepstakes establishments in Ohio, before the Senate State Government Oversight and Reform Committee. The Ohio Senate is expected to vote on the legislation in the next month. While legislation is pending, Attorney General DeWine formed the Internet Gaming Advisory Unit within his office to help local law enforcement and prosecutors' offices with staff experts in investigating and prosecuting internet sweepstakes cases. 

Copies of the lawsuits and motions for preliminary injunction are available on the Ohio Attorney General's website.