The courts will determine whether local businesses
that allow customers to use computer terminals to gamble online are
illegal. Meanwhile, it is encouraging that State Law Enforcement
Division agents have decided to make it an issue.
The online sweepstakes terminals offer a basic game of chance and
award prizes for winners who are chosen at random. Several York County
businesses have on-premises terminals where customers can play the
sweepstakes.
SLED agents recently confiscated sweepstakes terminals and other
equipment from three York County businesses on the grounds that they
were violating state gambling laws. Agents said the businesses met three
criteria that make their enterprises illegal: Undercover agents paid to
play the games; the terminals offered a game of chance; and the agents
got cash prizes or reimbursements to their debit cards when they won.
Those running the operations and their lawyers say this does not
constitute illegal gambling because customers don't actually pay to
play. In order to play, a customer buys a long-distance phone card or
Internet time card at a business that has terminals. The card includes
not only minutes for long-distance or Internet service but also free
sweepstakes points. Sweepstakes points can be used only to play the
online sweepstakes. But points won by playing the sweepstakes can be
redeemed for cash or merchandise.
Attorneys for the businesses say the games are legal because a
payment isn't required to play; customers are merely buying phone cards
and a chance to win a sweepstakes. And nothing in the state's law
prohibits a sweepstakes operation, they contend.
But SLED officials say it's still gambling. If customers are required
to buy phone cards, that is the same as paying to play.
We'll see. A York County judge soon will get the chance to decide.
But we're relieved that law enforcement agents have decided to press
the case. Until recently, SLED agents had largely ignored the increase
in the number of local businesses offering online gaming to customers.
York County Sheriff Bruce Bryant said that he had neither the manpower
nor the legal certitude to bust these operations.
Now, however, the legal issue is likely to be settled, and law
enforcement officials, including Bryant, can proceed accordingly. And,
legal loopholes aside, these operations certainly walk and quack like
gambling.
Ironically, anyone with a computer and a credit card can gamble the
day away at home. But when customers pay -- even in a roundabout way --
for the privilege of gambling at a business, that bears a striking
resemblance to video poker, a scourge the state finally got rid of five
years ago.
Online gambling casinos are just a variation on the same theme. We
hope law enforcement officials are successful at shutting them down
before the proliferate further
