In the U.S. state of Ohio, Attorney General Mike DeWine wants to regulate electronic “sweepstakes” games that have become popular over the years. Yesterday DeWine spoke at a news conference with state lawmakers who have introduced legislation regulating the devices.

DeWine does not like the games, which he calls “a threat to Ohio families and a rip-off to Ohio consumes.” The games in question often resemble slot machines, though DeWine repeatedly refers to them as “skill games.” They have become popular in business centers that offer copy and fax machines as well as the sweepstakes machines. In effect, many of those business centers have become small casino cafes. DeWine laments that those businesses have been “popping up all over the state.”

The legislation, sponsored by state representatives Nan Baker and Marlene Anielski, would allow the Ohio Casino Control Commission to regulate the machines. Due to a loophole in the current gambling laws, the machines and their businesses are currently unregulated. If the bill passes, the owners of the machines would have to be licensed by the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Among the regulations that would be imposed is a limit to no more than five games per location. Currently some of the business centers have as many as 62 gambling machines, according to Anielski.

There is no question that limiting the centers to five machines would hurt. DeWine says that the legislation would make it “very difficult but not impossible” for the game owners to remain in business. Of course, he wouldn’t mind if they went out of business, given his opinion of the machines and the businesses.

Tags: gambling legislation, internet sweepstakes cafes, Ohio gambling