They're popping up everywhere. Another internet cafe may be going up in southeast Gainesville and residents are not happy about it. Owners of the Allied Veterans Internet Cafe say it's purpose is to raise funds for veterans, but neighbors argue it will bring negative attention to their neighborhood.
To enter the cafe, you must be 18 years old, have a valid ID, and cash to play. Attorney for Allied Veterans, Kelly Mathis, says the cafe complies with all Florida sweepstakes laws and their average customer is 50 years old. Mathis says; "everybody likes to win something thats why they work thats why McDonalds gives away a million dollars a day not because they're just altruistic because it works."
Residents say the owners are hiding behind a gambling operation. Frank Diekman lives in the community where the cafe is proposed to go online. Diekman says, "this is not an internet cafe that has a sweepstakes operation this is a sweepstakes operation hiding behind an internet cafe."
Whether or not the Allied Veterans Internet Cafe will cash in at the Gainesville location, will ultimately be up to Alachua County Commissioners.