TCC approves moratorium on Internet Sweepstakes Cafes

The Toccoa City Commission approved a moratorium on Internet Sweepstakes Cafés during its recent meeting on Monday.

The moratorium has been in place for several years; however, the current one would have ended on July 1, 2022.

City Manager Billy Morse explained that the moratorium will prohibit the City of Toccoa from licensing internet sweepstakes cafes, while the City of Toccoa continues to review its ordinances to determine what regulations, if any, are appropriate to regulate internet sweepstakes cafes.

This extended moratorium will now expire on July 1, 2023.

According to americangaming.org, Internet Sweepstakes Cafes are carefully designed to take advantage of state sweepstakes laws to avoid state antigambling laws and gambling licensing restrictions.

The Sweepstakes Cafes often offer games that closely mimic the experience of traditional slot and video poker machines.

A motion approving the moratorium was made by Commissioner Terry Carter with Commissioner Gail Fry seconding the motion.

The motion was approved unanimously.