Bill introduced to close down casino cafes

by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - Vice Speaker B.J. Cruz has introduced legislation that would shut down casino cafés on Guam. Bill 192 would prohibit the operation or possession of electronic gaming machines or devices intended to be used for sweepstakes gambling whereas such devices upon the determination of Rev & Tax and the Attorney General are subject to forfeiture or immediate seizure.

"It finally makes the law take care of 21st Century technology to protect against these ingenious people who are using technology against us as far as gambling where our laws are in the 19th and 20th Century and they're now using computers," he said.

Cyber casino cafes are establishments in which games like blackjack, keno, digital horseracing and slot machines are played on computer terminals to acquire points that can be converted into sweepstakes entries with the intent of winning money. Cruz says while current law already prohibits gambling machines, these cyber casino cafes combine normal sweepstakes with casino- style gambling games to operate legal casino-like establishments in which Guam law did not anticipate this combination.

Cruz adds the AG's Office helped write the legislation.