Republican-controlled Florida Legislature Outlaws all Computers, Electronic Tablets and Smart Phones

florida has new casinos, folks. first time event.
remember, competition for resources is a decidedly darwinian event.

This bill also forced websites like WPT.com to withdraw from Florida.

Most of the sweepstakes cafes in Florida were rigged, I talked with someone who worked at one and she told me that they had control who won. Also most were for profit and little if any of their money went to charity. The bill had good intentions but was worded poorly(probably by design).

The fact is Florida governor Rick Scott should have be in prison for medicare fraud before he ran for office, but we all know prison is only for poor people. Rich criminals get to hold office and make important decisions. I do think the bill was written in a way as a gift to Florida's casino industry. Just like Scott nixing the high speed rail that was popular for most Floridians because he is buddies with FEC and did that to help expand the "Tri-Rail system."

Ironic how someone who ran on a platform "Let's put Florida back to work!" has done the exact opposite. This is what happens when someone who isn't even from the state runs for office for their personal financial gain.

Originally posted by AshleyD
reply to post by MrInquisitive

 

Florida's 1,000 Internet cafes were shut down immediately

That is the most terrifying thing to come from this, in my opinion. To think, with the wave a pen, the government could destroy an industry like that. It put 1,000 businesses out of order because of some other incident.

That kind of control is terrifying.

Yeah, what happened to the Republicans' mantra of "small government"?

It is the owner of one such internet cafe that is filing a lawsuit against the law. Apparently many of these internet cafes are used by migrant farmworkers and other low-income people who can't afford a computer -- or haven't a home for one.

Originally posted by Pinke
I almost wrote something along the lines of ...

Surely this is joke. I will eat a selection of my own foot ware and possibly one stylish leather belt of OP's choice if this is true.

If anyone is curious, cooked leather tastes slightly like over done sushi, and plastic booties are best consumed in a broth or soup.

Thanks.

No need to do anything so drastic. If you'll just dye your mohawk pink, I'll be satisfied.

Originally posted by Pinke
I almost wrote something along the lines of ...

Surely this is joke. I will eat a selection of my own foot ware and possibly one stylish leather belt of OP's choice if this is true.

If anyone is curious, cooked leather tastes slightly like over done sushi, and plastic booties are best consumed in a broth or soup.

Thanks.

No need to do anything so drastic. If you'll just dye your mohawk pink, I'll be satisfied.

reply to post by AshleyD


With a wave of a pen corrupted governments can manipulate every aspect of citizens lives, isn't that scary?, specially when you have corrupted morons in power passing moronic and stupid laws without even reading what it says before signing.

What that tells you, that we are run by mentally challenged political figures.

This sounds just ludicrous.

I thought the Republicans were against "the nanny state"...seems like they like the "police state" just fine though.

So...if a human being is a retard and cannot control himself...the state is supposed to slash the rights of everyone...sounds perfect...

and this is why our country is falling completely apart...idiots in charge that think they know what is best for everyone...

It'll be porn, booze, fast food, coffee....if someone can't control themselves...we must protect everyone...

The law was intended to shut down illegal gambling disguised as charities.

Those 'internet cafes' were a front that apparently found a loophole.

Florida gets billions in revenue from legal gambling.

The 'illegal' games and scams are cutting into their revenues.

It's the intent of the law that gets interpreted and selectively enforced, not necessarily the wording in general.

Still, it's funny just the same.

Florida Governor Rick Scott signed a law on Wednesday aimed at closing hundreds of storefront online gambling operations known as "Internet cafes" across the state.

The online poker and slots operations were at the center of a three-year federal investigation that culminated last month with 57 arrests on money-laundering and racketeering charges.

The investigation prompted the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll over her public relations company's work for a non-profit organization, Allied Veterans of the World.
Florida governor signs law to close storefront gambling

This spring, Florida lawmakers voted to ban Internet cafes that facilitated online gambling in the state. But in doing so, they might have accidentally also banned all computers and smartphones, one lawsuit now alleges.
Lawsuit Alleges Florida Law Bans Smartphones and Computers

The bill “Prohibition of Electronic Gambling Devices,” which was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott in April, “revises provisions relating to drawings by chance offered by nonprofit organizations, game promotions in connection with sale of consumer products or services, amusement games or machines, amusement centers, racketeering activity, & promotional offers …”
Did Wording in a Florida Law Accidentally Ban Computers, Smartphones?

I bet the single lawsuit is a pre indictment maneuver by lawyers who expect Federal charges to arrive soon in the mail.

OP - look, if the Republicans did this then I'm not surprised. But the democrats are no better.

Let's keep this non-partisan and work together to defeat the tyranny.

Originally posted by AshleyD
reply to post by MrInquisitive

 

Yeah, what happened to the Republicans' mantra of "small government"?

There are nanny state republicans and small government libertarian minded republicans. It's really just a label which means nothing at this point. Unfortunately, those that wish to control others have persisted, while the small l types became disgusted and left the control freaks to their own devices.

Well, full disclosure, I am a Dem, and I do find this quite comical, it could be either party that enacts a law like that.

Good thing it's in FLA. We know those grey panthers can't use computers anyway!

I have to admit I see a silver lining, but first, please note that the source article headline says it was accidental. This is not a nefarious plot by a group of people.

And here's the silver lining. Remember "We have to pass the bill to see what's in it?" And as we have since learned, what's in it is an unimaginable mess.

Florida made a mistake, it has been caught and exposed. I am certain that it will be amended quickly, and it doesn't affect any other state. That's how it should work. When a state fouls up there are common and effective remedies. When the Feds foul up, the whole country hurts, as it is hurting now.

Use Florida as an example, and the country will be better off.

Originally posted by AshleyD
reply to post by MrInquisitive

 

Florida's 1,000 Internet cafes were shut down immediately

That is the most terrifying thing to come from this, in my opinion. To think, with the wave a pen, the government could destroy an industry like that. It put 1,000 businesses out of order because of some other incident.

That kind of control is terrifying.

Yes, but it makes sense (in their plan/s), after all.. the cafes were the one last place to be anonymous online-so it seems. I think this is the beginning and this will affect other states one by one with the writing of the laws different so as to confuse the masses.

Just speculating of course. * for you.

reply to post by MrInquisitive


Seems this lawsuit fails to mention the section immediately following what she claims includes all devices:

(b) Secure additional chances or rights to use such machine, apparatus, or device, even though the device or system it may be available for free play or, in addition to any element of chance or unpredictable outcome of such operation, may also sell, deliver, or present some merchandise, indication of weight, entertainment, or other thing of value. The term "slot machine or device" includes, but is not limited to, devices regulated as slot machines pursuant to chapter 551.

link

This clearly designates "pay as you play" machines, and not all computers, etc.

Yes this is complete political idiocy if they continue they too will be subjected to removal. VOTE FOR A LEADER not a pretty face this time.Someone who has had a real career BEFORE office.

reply to post by MrInquisitive


Now that is true government incompetence,

not everything is incompetence, sometimes it is crime, but that case I believe is old fashioned foolishness

I believe the intention was for it to be interpreted as those devices cannot be used in that fashion by a business or non-profit to generate revenue in a publicly accessible venue. See, they wanted to make sure you could not just go grab a 200$ tablet, a $50 cloud storage thing from Wal-Mart, and a card reader/bill/coin collector, and call it slots, or not call it slots, as is where the potential loopholes open up. See if one hires a software maker, not a difficult or overly expensive feat in 2013, and puts together anything from an xbox, to a tablet, or even an ipod touch you have a makeshift casino. That is where it was headed, and our representatives did not want to deal with the horrible gambling addicts and destroyed families it would inevitably produce.

Unfortunately someone with little education obviously wrote the wording for this bill, as it should have elaborated more on the specifics for litigation purposes. Kind of a like a license agreement. A simple fix, although certainly it will drag on for months till our house decides its even worth their time fixing.

Originally posted by RobinB022

Originally posted by AshleyD
reply to post by MrInquisitive

 

Florida's 1,000 Internet cafes were shut down immediately

That is the most terrifying thing to come from this, in my opinion. To think, with the wave a pen, the government could destroy an industry like that. It put 1,000 businesses out of order because of some other incident.

That kind of control is terrifying.

Yes, but it makes sense (in their plan/s), after all.. the cafes were the one last place to be anonymous online-so it seems. I think this is the beginning and this will affect other states one by one with the writing of the laws different so as to confuse the masses.

Just speculating of course. * for you.

I would also like to add that seeing as we have many senior citizens that enjoy burning their retirements and pensions gambling, incidents like the following were probably taken into consideration.

71 year old man charges and shoots 2 teenage robbers in an internet café.

Not to mention thousands of people every year who destabilize their families losing money on these machines.

Originally posted by charles1952
I have to admit I see a silver lining, but first, please note that the source article headline says it was accidental. This is not a nefarious plot by a group of people.

And here's the silver lining. Remember "We have to pass the bill to see what's in it?" And as we have since learned, what's in it is an unimaginable mess.

Florida made a mistake, it has been caught and exposed. I am certain that it will be amended quickly, and it doesn't affect any other state. That's how it should work. When a state fouls up there are common and effective remedies. When the Feds foul up, the whole country hurts, as it is hurting now.

Use Florida as an example, and the country will be better off.

I understand it was a mistake. The point is that a legislature would make such a stupid, ill-conceived, all-expansive law. And the height of the irony is that it was the "small-government" Republican party that mast most responsible for it. The other point is that there are plenty of other stupid, ill-conceived, very-expansive laws that are enacted at the state and federal level -- both by Republicans and Democrats -- that have repercussions. For instance, teenagers writing patently obvious sarcastic statements, which get them thrown in jail and threatened with a felony indictment. Not to mention all the laws regarding government surveillance.

This incident shows that the current crop of elected politicians should be thrown out of office, as well as the complete hypocrisy of the Republican party claiming it is against big government, when in fact it is the poster child for out-of-control, brain-dead government. These clowns have no business making laws. Note, I didn't say "writing" laws because anymore it is lobbyists who write the laws. This law was obviously written by BIG Gambling interests in Florida and/or adjacent states.

Huh did i hop into a different dimension , so this makes internet cafes illegal eshtablishments ?

By accident , they didnt read the form they had to sign with their signature ....

It looks like they are more into signing the legislations then actaully reading them and finding out this can only be implicated by jailing every single person using these devices.

Atleast they are gonna need the Fema camps for the people using a phone or pc now.

I get a sense they find it funny , instead of the way they should view it , waisting tax payers money and looking like a fool.

TheGreazel.

Originally posted by ownbestenemy
The language is very broad but to pin it to just Republicans is highly partisan; see New York's own....

So, Florida's poorly worded, Republican led legislation is also New York's fault?

Talk about a leap in logic and partisanship.

reply to post by MrInquisitive


As other posters have mentioned here...this was a *BI-PARTISAN* Vote. That means those Democrats voted for it as well and also did their part to help pass it. You seem entirely scope locked on how Republicans ruin the day and getting rid of them all will make the sun shine again or some nonsense.

When BOTH parties helped make a law and then helped vote the law in together? It's called BI-partisan. It means it's not one side's fault or the other and getting rid of one may satisfy deeply partisan agendas but won't solve anything else to do with this situation.

If you'd like to suggest we get rid of BOTH sides of the Florida Legislature? That's an outstanding idea...but I won't be asking what party they belong to on their way out the doors. They are both as corrupt as the other with virtually no difference between them.