Criminal charges are pending for the owner of an illegal internet cafe in Havana. On Friday, investigators found more than 70 illegal gambling devices, an ATM and cash in Rio Arcade, located at 6766 Florida Georgia Highway. The Café is where Havana’s popular L & J adult lounge once stood, but recently it has housed an illegally operated internet cafe.
The map below shows where the facility is located:
Lawmakers banned cafes back in 2013 and according to Eric Carr, the external affairs director for the state’s gaming commission, a person who violates that law could face fines and face criminal charges including racketeering, money laundering, and more.
“In the state of Florida, if you have a slot machine in your possession, that is illegal," said Carr. "So every possession of a machine is a count. So, eventually someone will be charged with 70 counts of having an illegal gambling device.”
The Florida Gaming Commission is still new, however the state’s push to crackdown on illegal gambling enterprises has and will continue to be an ongoing effort.
“This is a statewide issue, so we have to partner up with local sheriffs and local police departments across the state to tackle this issue. As it is a very complex issue, that we are working to stomp out.”
Just last month, another arcade in Havana was involved in an attempted robbery that left one person dead and another hospitalized. To report illegal gambling activity, you may contact the FGCC at 850-880-3433 or visit https://flgaming.gov .