Pseudo-gambling spreads through area Date: 1/11/2011 Jan. 12, 2011
By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
GREATER SPRINGFIELD — With media reports stating that lawmakers are beginning another, and perhaps ultimate, round of discussions on casino gambling in the Commonwealth, local businesses may have beat them to it — kind of.
"Internet cafe's" started appearing in Chicopee and have now spread to Springfield. There are plans to open the businesses in Holyoke and East Longmeadow. The businesses feature computer terminals, which are connected to the Internet. Customers buy time on the computers on which they can check their e-mail, go Web-surfing or play casino-like games that can win them money through a sweepstakes system.
The businesses offer free food and are decorated in a way that would remind people of a casino.
The appearances of these businesses have pushed municipalities into new areas and interpretations of law. Springfield City Solicitor Edward Pikula told Reminder Publications, "It appears these devices are used for entertainment as defined by the law and the city has held a hearing and will consider them under the entertainment statues."
Pikula said the city is seeking authority from the state to license the computer terminals as automatic amusement devices such as a pinball game. Greater regulatory control would allow several city cities and towns the ability to put conditions on the businesses and to deny or revoke a permit.
The Attorney General's office has also been requested to rule on the legality of the businesses.
Peter Sygnator, the chair of the city's Board of License Commissioners, said there are questions about whether or not the businesses need a common victualer's license, since food is served at the businesses.
"They are very interesting topics," he said.
In 2009, Cafeno's Cyber Cafe in Chicopee was the first of these new businesses to appear in the area and Chicopee Police Chief John Ferraro said there have been no issues at that location.
Cafeno's Cyber Cafe describes itself on its Facebook page as "an Internet cafe offering network time, complimentary food and beverage and free entries into our sweepstakes (no purchase necessary)! Cruise the Internet or play our free sweepstakes games for a chance to win thousands!"
Pikula compared what the businesses do with what McDonald's and other fast food businesses do with various sweepstakes. He noted, though, that few people hang out at a restaurant to enter a free sweepstakes over and over.
He said, from a regulatory perspective, these businesses could offer a "gateway" to gambling.
The owners of the proposed Internet cafe in Holyoke have taken out applications for necessary permits at the Health Department and construction permits at the Building Department, although no city official seems to know who the owners are at this point. That Internet cafe would be at the South Street Shopping Plaza.
According to Robyn Macdonald, director of the East Longmeadow Planning Board, the group of Gerald and Jennifer Burritt and Sharon Keough already own two such establishments in Chicopee and two in Springfield, including the 777 Cyber Center on Cooley Street.
Jennifer Burritt declined to comment, other than to tell Reminder Publications that she has no involvement with the 777 Cyber Center or any other internet cafe, other than the one being considered for East Longmeadow.
Pikula noted that North Carolina has enacted legislation to ban the businesses.
According to media reports found through a search of the Web, Internet sweepstakes cafes have been recently raided in Ohio, Virginia, Florida, Texas, California, Alabama and Utah for suspicion of illegal gambling.
At the 777 Cyber Center, $10 will buy a patron 50 minutes of Internet usage, plus $10 in game credits. Patrons are given a username and password for the games. Should a patron win a game, they can collect cash winnings by giving worker at the front desk their username.
A listing for the 777 Cyber Center on the "local news and views" section of the Western Massachusetts Craigslist.com Web site describes the establishment as an "Internet gaming center" and also read, "We welcome players over the age of 16."
If the state does enact a casino bill, these businesses may no longer be on the cutting edge of entertainment they currently are now.
Chris Maza contributed to this story.
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