North Carolina has been on a decade long offensive to eliminate video gambling machines, including video poker, throughout the state. But the problem has been a 2006 video poker ban that left open an option for computer games that has players visiting “sweep-stakes” cafes and other businesses to play online.
In the past, judges have rules in favor of the exception that allowed these games but police and sheriffs fought to close the gaming locations. But now the Senate judiciary committee has recommended closing the popular gaming cafes.
But the final ban doesn’t appear to be popular since both players and café workers have rallied to oppose the action. Some have pointed out that the cafes are a better source of entertainment than the sate run lottery. Others are of course pointing out the hypocrisy of the view that gambling is somehow evil, except in the case of state run lotteries.
Players are backing the sweep-stakes cafes because they say that they stand a better chance of winning when playing at the cafes and that playing video poker and other games takes more time than simply scratching a lottery card.
I have to say that I agree with them. I’ve played the scratch off games in Florida’s state lottery, It takes maybe a minute to scratch the cards and then you’re done. There’s no strategy to the play or to improving your chance of winning. Though in Florida, it’s been proven that checking to find out which games still have prizes left can improve your chances. Apparently the state keeps lottery games in circulation even after all the prizes or main prizes have been won for that particular game.
