Fla. House ready to ban Internet cafes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- The Florida House is giving preliminary approval to a bill that would ban gambling establishments commonly known as Internet cafes.

State legislators briefly debated the measure (HB 155) on Thursday. They are poised to approve the bill on Friday and send it over to the Florida Senate.

Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville predicts the bill will be sent to Gov. Rick Scott before the session ends in early May. Scott has not said if he would sign it but has said "everything's on the table."

The Legislature is going after the storefront gambling dens in the wake of an investigation into the Allied Veterans of the World charity. It was accused of running a $290 million illegal gambling business that directed most of the proceeds into its owners' pockets.