Eustis cracking down on illegal gambling – Daily Commercial

Roxanne Brown @DC_SLP_roxbrown

EUSTIS The City of Eustis has reason to believe that at least two businesses in town may be running illegal gambling operations.

At a city meeting Thursday, City Commissioners said they want none of that going on in the city.

To make it clear, commissioners directed staff to come up with an ordinance that would prohibit the use of simulated gambling devices.

The ordinance will be considered at a meeting on June 15.

Currently, the city code only addresses Amusements & Entertainment, but does not specifically prohibit or regulate gambling devices.

A Florida State Statute does not allow them, officials said.

Technically, based on state statute, they are operating illegally," Eustis City Manager Ron Neibert said of such facilities.

"But with a local ordinance, we can get in there, enforce the violation and shut them down easier. That is why we are trying to do this, he added.

At the meeting, Development Services Director Lori Barnes outlined some of the challenges the city is facing with illegal operations and devices, calling it a new, old topic.

Development services and the police department have observed a resurgence of amusement centers utilizing simulated gambling devices that are reminiscent of internet sweepstakes cafes of the past, said Barnes.

She said there are at least two businesses in the city suspected of actively operating illegal gambling facilities.

She also pointed out an increase in robberies at such places, including one in Eustis last month. She said neighboring cities are having similar problems.

In the last few years, inquiries to operating senior amusement facilities in our city have increased. A number have opened without review and approval of development services or under false pretenses, describing their businesses as engaging in activities such as computer repair or business centers that are for legal documents like copy, fax or western union, Barnes said.

Commissioners expressed views indicating that, for the most part, prohibiting gambling devices or facilities is the way to go.

Still, they raised questions about whether other cities in Lake County had similar ordinances.

Barnes reported that Mount Dora prohibits gambling devices, Leesburg strictly regulates gaming establishments, only allowing them in certain zoning districts and Howey-in-the-Hills, who adopted a moratorium in 2011 against them, took no action when the moratorium expired.

Barnes said they are using Seminole Countys ordinance, which prohibits them, as a guideline.

No one from the public spoke on the matter, but commissioners weighed in a little regarding their views.

Im for a total prohibition in line with Mount Dora and Seminole County, Commissioner Anthony Sabatini said.

Commissioner Linda Durham Bob simply said, This is a family town.

After the meeting, Mayor Bob Morin said he believes ridding the town of such establishments would be good for the city, but also for the people who frequent them.

"The majority of people that go to these Internet Cafes are low income or down on their luck and trying to get to the point of making some fast, easy money. But it doesnt always work that way or to their benefit, Morin said. We also dont want to have problems with robberies targeted at these types of places in our city.

Neibert said suspicions surrounding businesses in question arose when city officials in the process of conducting allowable inspections, such as fire or building inspections, noticed uses going on that seemed suspicious.

But they weren't in violation of current code.

An ordinance prohibiting the uses however, would place businesses involved in that type of activity in jeopardy.

They will immediately become illegal and would need to cease and desist, Neibert said.

Neibert also said every potential new business in town is required to fill out a business tax receipt, which includes a summary of services.

The city, he said, does as much as it can to ensure each new business sticks to the services they disclosed.

When these businesses filed their tax receipts, their classifications indicated they were legitimate businesses. We take that in good faith, but now, we have reason to believe that they are operating illegally and inconsistent with their business tax receipts, Neibert said.

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Eustis cracking down on illegal gambling - Daily Commercial