Game room ban proposed

The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners held a special meeting Dec. 30 to introduce a draft of an ordinance to ban gaming establishments as public nuisances. The ordinance follows a similar action taken in May by the City of Jacksonville that “shut down simulated gambling establishments.”

The board approved scheduling a public hearing on the proposed ordinance for 6 p.m., Jan. 27. It will vote on the ordinance after the hearing. If it passes, it will mean immediate cessation of all such establishments in Nassau County.

Board Chairman Justin Taylor has already taken a stand on the issue. “When we started hearing from the sheriff’s office about drugs, prostitution and an increase in violent crime, I don’t think this is what we want in Nassau County. I’ll be blunt. When it comes back (Jan. 27), I’m going to vote for the ordinance. I hope it’s the direction we all go,” Taylor said.

Since the closing of such establishments in Duval County, 14 new gaming sites have opened in Nassau County for an estimated total of 29 now in operation.

The draft asserts that gaming and gambling are not presently lawful by state statute (Florida Statutes, Chapter 849) and that “simulated gambling devices” deceive residents and tourists alike into thinking that gambling activities are legal.

The draft states, “Between May 1 and Dec. 30, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office has reported several hundred calls for service associated with the simulated gambling establishments and the frequency of calls has increased since Duval County ‘shut’ them down.”

Following two armed robberies of local gaming sites in December, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office ran undercover operations at 28 sites over the course of 11 days. Operatives witnessed drug transactions of methamphetamine, crack, cocaine and heroin, and on two occasions were solicited for prostitution.

Before a chamber filled nearly to capacity, including multiple media sources, Sheriff Bill Leeper told commissioners, “These places are crime magnets.” 

Leeper cited thefts, robberies and a recent shooting that took place in these businesses. He also shared a list of concerns, including hours of operation, inadequate parking, poor outside lighting, the large amount of cash onsite and a lack of regulation. “My greatest concern is the crime they attract,” he said.

Nine members of the audience took to the podium to voice opinions pro and con on the ban. They included owners of gaming establishments, regular customers and members of the clergy.

Owners and customers of gaming establishments maintain the sites are a source of recreation and socialization for the elderly and others who might otherwise be isolated in their homes. Those citizens minimized the incidence of crime associated with their businesses.

Jerry Bass of Callahan, who leases space to two such businesses, spoke in favor of regulation rather than a ban.

“I think these places need to be regulated. The owners of these establishments want regulation. I think there’s a (compromise) we can come to on this. … Sheriff Leeper has the right idea (about) what needs to be done.”

Bass went on to use Leeper’s list of concerns as a guideline for regulations. He informed the commissioners about an alternate proposal he has sent to each of them for consideration.

Seber Newsome III, who has long been in favor of a ban, told commissioners, “Thanks for the courage and backbone to do this.”

The county’s proposed ban would not pertain to personal or non-commercial ownership of simulated gambling devices nor prohibit charitable organizations from conducting fundraising involving gaming. However, some restrictions would apply to the latter; specifically, that charities give advance written notice to the sheriff’s office, have no more than two such events in a calendar year and limit events to no more than six hours of operation.