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The big winners in the debate over Ohio's Internet sweepstakes cafes were state lawmakers' campaign coffers. The cafes sold phone or Internet time that could be used to reveal prizes in slots-like games played on computer terminals.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lawmakers' campaign accounts hit the jackpot when they debated shutting down Ohio's Internet sweepstakes cafes.

Companies and lobbyists on all sides of the debate contributed more than $1 million to campaign accounts of lawmakers debating House Bill 7, which essentially bans Internet cafes by limiting prize payouts.

The casino industry and its supporters pumped $423,000 into Statehouse campaign coffers, a Northeast Ohio Media Group analysis of campaign finance reports and records from the state attorney general and legislative inspector general showed.

Owners of the cafes, where people bought phone time and played slots-like games for prizes, and their lobbyists donated at least $120,000. It's unknown exactly how much cafe owners contributed because many owners either didn't report their names when registering with the Ohio attorney general or never registered.

The chart below shows contributions received from casinos, racinos and other legalized gambling interests and their lobbyists versus those received by Internet cafe owners and lobbyists from January 2011 through June 2013, as well as lawmakers' final votes on House Bill 7. A "yes" vote means the lawmaker voted for the bill, to essentially ban the cafes. Two dashes appear indicate the lawmaker was absent or abstained from voting. Mobile users: Swipe table to see hidden column.

Methodology: Contribution data was downloaded from the secretary of state's website for all lobbyists who registered to lobby on House Bill 7 and employees of companies that lobbied on the bill. Contributions from "legal gaming" entities include casinos, race tracks and companies that produce games or products for lotteries, bingo and other legalized forms of gambling. Most but not all were in favor of House Bill 7, and the grouping does not include contributions from others, such as veterans' organizations, who opposed the cafes.

Contributions to lawmakers



Senate

House

Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported votes of some lawmakers.