Ohio crackdown on Internet cafes runs out of time

COLUMBUS (AP) — Don’t bet on a crackdown this year on gambling operations known as Internet cafes.

The Ohio Senate won’t act before the session ends this month on a proposal that amounts to a virtual ban on the game parlors.

Senate President Tom Niehaus said members of his Republican caucus had a number of concerns with the bill and not enough days left to fully vet the measure. The Senate aims to finish its work for the year by Thursday.

“We were simply running out of time,” Niehaus told reporters today, as he acknowledged that he wouldn’t be bringing the measure to a vote.