The Orlando Sentinel reviewed state campaign contribution record and found that Allied Veterans of the World, the group at the center of a multi-state gambling investigation, and its affiliates, made $1.3 million in political contributions to Republicans, Democrats and several lawmakers who deal with state gaming laws.
Allied Veterans of the World, a nonprofit group that operates online "sweepstakes" centers across Florida, is accused of running a $300 million gambling ring. Investigators say the group operated under the guise of a charity, claiming 70 percent of its profits went to Veterans issues. The real figure is less than two percent.
According to the Sentinel report:
The contributions — including at least $327,000 to the Republican Party of Florida and $207,000 to the Florida Democratic Party — were backed by a $1.2 million lobbying campaign that successfully blocked efforts to regulate or ban Internet cafes such as the ones run by Allied. Now lawmakers are rushing to ban the cafes — and the parties are rushing to give the money to charity.
You can read more here.
Meanwhile, the legislature has started moving to ban internet cafes. A House Committee has passed a bill banning internet cafes. Speaking with reporters, House Speaker Will Weatherford says he's in favor of a law that would shut down the centers immediately.
"My preference on a personal level would be to move very quickly, I don't think we should give them time to phase out. I think if there are entities acting illegally--which we now have a lot of evidence that they are--we need to move swiftly," he said.
The Senate has scheduled a meeting Monday to take up it's version of an internet gaming bill.
