Court Upholds Internet Cafe Gambling Convictions

The 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals has upheld the gambling convictions of six people affiliated with three Internet cafes in Cleveland. Two owners and four employees received probation from the three-judge panel, which rejected arguments that the cafes exist to sell Internet time and offered slots-like computerized games as a marketing tool. Defense attorneys plan to appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court. Last week, the Ohio House approved a crackdown on the cafes. Ohio's Attorney General has called the cafes fronts for illegal gambling.