When the Ohio legislature outlawed internet cafes, more may have been at work than just the fear of the crime that they allegedly generate.
A study by the Northeast Ohio Media Group (NEOMG) suggests that $423,000 in donations over three years by the state’s casino owners persuaded lawmakers to close the internet cafes down.
The internet cafes themselves donated an estimated $120,000 during the same period, NEOMG determined by studying campaign finance reports.
The internet cafes offered phone cards and sweepstakes games played on computers that resembled slot machines.
It is estimated that more than $1 million was donated to state election campaigns by both sides. The first moratorium on new cafes was adopted in 2011 and two years later the legislature adopted a law that restricted the cafes to prizes no larger than $10.
Attorney General Mike DeWine waged a very public campaign against the cafes, accusing them of being dens of crime. This helped persuade lawmakers who might not be leaning in the direction of banning the operations.
