Controversial Internet Sweepstakes Business Operating in St. Petersburg

Driving along "the Deuces" in St. Petersburg (22nd Street South for all of you not from the 'burg), I stumbled upon one of the most disturbing sights I have seen in this fair city: one of those illicit Internet Sweepstakes Cafes (ISCs), which have been all over the news lately because Pinellas Sheriff Jim Coats considers them illegal and has publicly stated that he intends to shut down any ISCs operating in his jurisdiction.

Up until today, when it was reported that at least two of the three ISCs, including the one owned by Rep. Peter Nehr, operating in Pinellas County have closed their doors in reaction to Coats' threat, there hasn't been an ISC opened in St. Petersburg.

In fact, when I spoke with the St. Petersburg Police Department today, they weren't sure the ISC at 833 22nd St. South was even open for business. In addition, the elected officials I discussed this matter with said they only recently noticed the ISC, but said they would look into the issue immediately.

The presence of an ISC in St. Petersburg raises all sorts of questions.  Will Jim Coats attempt to shut down this operation unilaterally?  Or will he coordinate with the St. Petersburg Police?  Does Mayor Bill Foster have a position on ISCs?  What about the City Council?  

Perhaps more importantly, why am I the one who is bringing this issue to the public's attention?  How is it that an Internet Sweepstakes Cafe opened in St. Petersburg, across the street from the Carter-Woodson Museum and no one noticed?