Instead of venturing to Vegas, many people are gambling right in their backyards at internet cafes. As you might imagine, controversy is brewing.
Brunswick County has several of these internet cafes, but they are not necessarily welcomed. Mayor Alan Holden said, "They're popping up like mushrooms all over Brunswick County."
But they are not popping up in Holden Beach, at least not yet. Holden Beach is one of the only towns in southern Brunswick County where you will not find sweepstakes cafes, which are homes to online gambling.
"This is a family beach and most of the people who live here are not interested in the gambling-type facilities at Holden Beach,” said Mayor Holden. “We do have the accommodations for our zoning but we are re-evaluating that at this time."
Because Holden Beach cannot prohibit someone from opening a sweepstakes café in town, Mayor Holden said the town plans to tighten ordinances, like limiting the number of electronic machines and whether a sweepstakes café can be built near a school or church, in hopes owners will choose to do business elsewhere.
Gina Caserma opened Gold Strike Internet Sweepstakes a month ago just outside of Holden Beach in Supply. She is worried about what new regulations will mean for her.
"Just what the county's going to do, what the state's going to do - that's my biggest (concern). The regulations and stuff, they can make their limits we can follow that, but the biggest worry I have is getting shut down," Caserma said.
But for Mayor Holden, the hope is to keep the cafes out of town to begin with. "I'm sure all the people involved in that business are good people and the people who do it are good people, we just hope they enjoy other places more than they would Holden Beach."
Ocean Isle Beach, Shallotte and Calabash are also in the process of changing their ordinances to regulate sweepstakes cafes.
note
When you gamble you bet on a game of chance. The outcome of that game is totally random, without any method behind whether or not you win or loose. A sweepstakes is based on a predefined list of winners and loosers. The list is made before the sweepstakes starts, and continues until the list is out of entries. The list is generated based on a clear win/loss percent; something like keep 40%, give 60% back. In that way, a sweepstakes (like mcdonald's monopoly game, or twist caps on soda bottles) is drastically different from a game of chance. Sure there's a chance as to whether or not you get the winning entry, but that's no more taking a gamble than walking out your own front door in the morning.
Secondly, your not paying to play the game. Your actually usually purchasing either phone-card time; or internet service time. The sweepstakes entries are free, and can be attained without the purchase of either the phone-card time or internet time by mailing a form to the software provider.
And finally I've been in the business for a little over a year now. I've been an attendant, a technician, and a manager. Some of these establishments are trashy, this is true. However, there are establishments though that are very, very clean; have great people working there; and provide a form of entertainment to the public without being a drag on the community around them. They create jobs, they pay taxes, and if people want to have this kind of fun their going to do it one way or the other. I think that in these times, politicians should be clamoring to bring in more jobs, not figuring out ways to send them somewhere else.
internet cafe
they shouldnt have let them open the places to begin with because gambling is gambling no matter if you do it on the internet or a casino they dont allow slot machines cause it gambling they shouldnt let them open these shops cause it gambling..
LOL
You mean like...stocks....biggest gambling business in the US
It's not gambling (like the
It's not gambling (like the lottery is) - it's sweepstakes, like McDonald's Monopoly game. As long as they follow the rules (they are), why should they be treated differently than any other business?
guest34
its all the same no matter what way you look at it if its ,lottery ,sweepstakes,slot machines,they all have rules.an people spend their money on them so if they allow lottery,an sweepstakes why not allow slot machines cause you gamble your money away to try to win!
Trashy
I think these cafe's are trashy! There are 2 or 3 alone just on Long Beach Rd. 1 or 2 on 211, 3 in Southport, and another one just popped up along 133.....
Why??? Who's actually winning???
I won.
I did. I won $1600 at one in Leland.
Won
and how much have you lost in the past? I am sure in the long run it will be more than $1600.
These places are in the business to make money and they will make a lot more than they will pay out. I think they all should be closed down. It will not be long before robbers will be making the Jackpot at these places and someone will be hurt.
Ive been 3 times...
Once I lost $40. Once I won $6. Once I won $1600. So that puts me up $1566. I am pretty sure I will never lose $1566 at video poker in my entire life. Banks get robbed, should we shut them down? Gas Stations get robbed, should we close all gas stations?
sweepstakes cafe
Won,
EVERY business is in business to make money! Your argument that these businesses are tempting to robbers is no reason to close them down- robbers are tempted by banks & conv. stores also. Should they be shut down,too? Let the owners worry about security.
If you feel that its not for you....THEN DON'T GO TO THEM!
So?
What difference does it make if people lose money there? If thats how they choose to spend their money then so be it.
NC is still in the dark ages
NC is still in the dark ages and Holden Beach is even more primitive.
You're right about this
You're right about this whole...area of NC being primative. I'm depressed that I live here. My last comment barely scratches the surface of reasons why some may find this place uninhabitable. *Bible thumpers, gossiping, small minded people, old fashioned, uneducated, impolite, and snobby.
*Not everyone is like this, but you tend to come across it more than twice.
Florida, California..anyone?