WEATHERInternet cafe owner sues Fremont officials, Ohio AG for Jan. 7 raid
Jan 25
2012
Players Club Internet Cafe owner Robert Dabish has filed a federal lawsuit against Fremont officials and the Ohio Attorney General, alleging they violated his constitutional rights when they raided his business earlier this month.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Toledo, says the raid was politically motivated and ill conceived.
Fremont police and the Attorney General's investigators worked together to investigate and eventually raid the Players Club for allegedly promoting illegal gambling. While authorities seized the Internet cafe's equipment in the raid, criminal charges have yet to be filed.
Dabish says his business was perfectly legal — his customers could participate in free promotional sweepstakes that offered cash prizes. The concept is similar to the Monopoly promotions offered at McDonald's, Dabish's lawsuit states.
For more on this story, pick up Wednesday's Register. Also, check out the PDF below to read the lawsuit.
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10:53 AM
grandmasgirl says
@ Bluto: These small internet cafes let you go in with a $20.00 bill. You can have lunch (most provide some type of snack or food) and something non-alcoholic to drink. You don't have to drive 50 or 200 miles to play. It is cheaper than going to the movies and buying some popcorn and something to drink. I think the real gamblers are the ones who will be patronizing the BIG casino's. The small fish who are just looking for a couple of hours of intertainment will still go to the internet cafes
09:15 AM
Bluto says
@ grandmasgirl , If they can't afford to go to the big places, perhaps gambling is NOT the best of hobbies .
10:13 PM
katelih says
Wow...It's hard to take somebody seriously when he/she can't even spell the word..detective...
05:06 PM
grandmasgirl says
They have these little gambling joints all over Ohio. Why is this one illegal and the same type of thing in other towns isn't. I hope he wins his case. I wouldn't doubt that the big casino's will want to shut down all these small places. Some people can't afford to go to the big places. Maybe they just want to play $10 or $15. It is no different than buying a lottery ticket at a small place of business.
03:12 PM
wiredmama222 says
Look, offer the government a cut of the money through taxes and watch how fast they shut the heck up. That is what they want, pure and simple.