The Senate Monday night approved a ban on Internet sweepstakes cafes in North Carolina. It does not prohibit sweepstakes used for products sold in stores.
The measure passed 47-1. The one dissenting vote was from Democratic Senator Julia Boseman of Wilmington. She is sponsoring a bill that would legalize the sweepstakes games and tax them. Boseman claimed Lottery Commissioner Tom Sheehan would not oppose the legalization.
That’s the sentiment of more Representatives in the House. In fact, some are blocking any move on the sweepstakes games because they want them taxed, that includes members of the Black Caucus. House Democratic leader Hugh Holliman said he doesn’t expect a vote on the ban or legalization in his chamber.
Republican Senator Tom Apodaca asked the Democratic sponsor of the ban Josh Stein if the bill would affect any current appeals over cases involving the Internet sweepstakes houses. Stein said it would not.
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