Authorities raid internet cafes, allege gambling - Los Angeles

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office has seized over 200 electronic gaming machines from an internet café. Internet cafes have come under scrutiny as illegal gambling houses.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The seizures in San Bernardino included money believed to be collected as part of a gambling scheme.

Internet cafes have come under suspicion as internet access is virtually ubiquitous. That individuals with home access to the web still spending time in internet cafes is itself suspicious. Authorities have recently discovered that many such cafes are not what they seem, and are actually operating online casinos.

On Tuesday, four locations were raided. Authorities did not say if further raids were likely.

Authorities say the most usual gimmick is to use the disguise of "promotional sweepstakes" in which players get "credits" to gamble away. Lucky players can earn up to $4,000.

Players are rarely lucky.

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