Tallahassee, Florida – Embattled Internet Gambling Café Organization Faces Two Legal Setbacks
Allied Veterans of the World is a non-profit organization that raises money for veterans. Part of their fundraising strategy in Florida has involved running Internet cafés that take advantage of a loophole in Florida sweepstakes legislation to offer online gambling. Their cafés have been raided and shut down by police in several Florida counties, including Seminole, Marion, Jackson and Pinellas.
They recently filed a lawsuit asking the state of Florida to declare that the cafés do not violate Florida state law. But the circuit court judge threw out the case, saying that local sheriffs are not arms of the state, meaning that Allied Veterans of the World will have to fight for the right to stay open in each of the individual counties where they are attempting to operate. They currently operate twenty five cafés across the state of Florida.
In related news, a lawsuit brought against Allied Veterans of America by Jacksonville Greyhound Racing Inc. will be allowed to proceed. The lawsuit alleges that Allied Veterans of the World is violating Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and Florida's Civil Remedies for Criminal Practices Act and that the establishments are a "common nuisance" under Florida Statutes.
Jacksonville Racing is seeking to have all of the cafés shut down and is asking for damages and legal costs. You can read more about the two lawsuits at Tallahassee judge tosses out suit over Internet cafes.
If you have a legal matter that is affecting your business, please contact Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A. for legal counsel.
