After the state passed a ban on video gambling machines last month, many popular senior arcades had to close. But The Miami Herald reports that venues like Chuck E. Cheese and Dave & Busters continue to operate, even though their machines also don't comply with the law.
Jennifer Morejon of Hialeah used to own of a senior arcade, until Hialeah police made her shut it down.
"I am out of business. From one day to the other, like today I was legal, and once the governor signed the bill, right away I was unemployed", Morejon said. "I had paid for licenses and everything, and they didn't even let us finish the term or give us like a couple of days to tell our employees that they're going to be unemployed."
State legislators had passed the ban after a scandal involving internet cafes which claimed to be charities helping veterans. Those cafes are now under investigation for fraud. That scandal led to the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll, whose public relations firm had represented the cafes.
An association representing hundreds of senior arcades has filed suit arguing that the video gambling ban is vague and arbitrary.