Now it's Internet Cafes?

I believe from what I have read and seen on TV that the key difference between gambling and the sweepstakes rules are this:

Gambling is supposedly completely at random. The house maintains an advantage on games, but does not set aside a set number of winners and losers; it is supposed to be by chance.

Sweepstakes supposedly run on the principle that a set number of winners are going to be selected within a certain period. One report I saw showed one of the sweepstakes cafes opening the control computer terminal and showing that the amount of money to be dispersed over the next 1,000 spins of a virtual slot machine was $33.00 (not the exact amount, but you get the point). I think this is heir key argument as to why this is not gambling.

Also, the sweepstakes cafe was giving away a card loaded with points free to complete the no purchase necessary rules. Once this card was used up and players saw they had the chance to win money, they would then go on to load money onto additional cards and play away.

I agree with your point that the police could worry about more important things, and wish they would just make things easier on us and just legalize and regulate our hobby. It would be so much better for 99% of everyone involved.

Sweepstakes are a strange situation. McDonalds regularly runs sweepstakes competitions where you get a card or pull off a tab on your drink to see if you won. No-one that I have heard of has ever called that gambling. The problem the internet cafes have is that instead of a card or pull tab or whatever, they present their sweepstakes using a computer program that looks and behaves to a person just like a slot machine. And even though they sell "internet time" and the customers get a "free card", its pretty obvious what the real aim is. Whether its technically illegal or not though, I'm not qualified to answer!

Me neither, I'm not informed about the legality of the matter, but I have an impression that it is all a well-disguised gambling

My brother is fond on Internet cafes, he and his friends usually go there and play games like counter strike, etc. I don't like them very much and don't go there unless it is very necessary and can't reach Internet at a different place.

yes internet cafes are I think for that kind of games . I usually go there for that reason too... and it is maybe for people how don't have computers at home