Sweepstakes owners take new ruling seriously | Business

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Some business owners in Columbus County are adhering to a recent court ruling that makes sweepstakes parlors illegal.

Pete Williamson shut down a total of three internet café locations: Fair Bluff, Tabor City and Boiling Spring Lakes. He said 20 people lost their jobs in the process and that the machines he owns are now in storage.

Williamson said he believes lawmakers are upset because people were going into sweepstakes parlors instead of spending money to play the lottery.

TG Lovett, who recently opened a convenience store in Fair Bluff, said he was going to add three of the internet machine to his business but has since returned them.

Lovett said people from South Carolina would head north of the border to play the machines since they’re illegal in SC. Now, he believes crime will go up because people will start running sweepstakes parlors illegally in garages and other places.

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