City places moratorium on electronic gambling businesses - Other Community News - Ohioans for Responsible Rural Development

Pickerington Times-Sun
Published February 16, 2012

By Janet Thiede

It's a sure bet that "Internet Sweepstakes Cafes" will not be setting up business any time soon in Pickerington

City Council Feb. 7, placed a "moratorium" on permits that could have been issued to prospective businesses wanting to come to town to set up computer gambling establishments.

Although the city has not yet had any businesses indicate an interest, City Developmental Services Director Joe Henderson told the Planning, Projects & Services Committee in January the city needs to address the issue now rather later.

Council unanimously approved the ordinance to ban any type of computerized gambling enterprise from opening its doors in Pickerington through the end of the year.

According to Pickerington City Manager Bill Vance this "moratorium" supports a statewide initiative.

"My understanding of the related concerns is the lack of state and local Internet Sweepstakes Cafe regulations and therefore the inability to project the impacts of unregulated computer gambling," Vance said.

Read the full story on the Pickerington Times-Sun website.