Rancho Cordova Seeks To Stop Internet Cafe Casinos

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. (AP) — Rancho Cordova city officials have approved a moratorium on new businesses that they say are casinos disguised as Internet cafes.

The Sacramento Bee reports the City Council recently passed the 45-day moratorium to prevent similar operations from opening their doors. The moratorium will give city officials time to explore an ordinance to ban the businesses outright.

State officials say the cafes have computers that run casino games. Customers buy a card to play the games and can cash out the winnings at the store.

The Justice Department has issued an advisory calling the businesses illegal gambling operations, but enforcement often falls under the jurisdiction of local governments.

Operators and their vendors contend the businesses are legitimate and operate within the confines of the law.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.