The Winston-Salem City Council will address two rezoning proposals Monday for new electronic gaming shops, or sweepstakes business. But some residents are against the idea.
Two sweepstakes businesses want to open in Winston-Salem: one would be on West Clemmonsville road and the other on New Walkertown Road. The rezoning for the businesses has already been approved by the City County board, but now it needs to be approved by the city council. Residents, though, are divided on the issues.
According the Winston-Salem Journal, Robert Rollins, speaking for the owners of the sweepstakes company said he'd been in business for 15 years and would run it properly. But Carolyn Highsmith opposed the business. She's a neighborhood activist representing the New South Community Coalition and says there are already too many electronic gaming stores in that area.
Sweepstakes parlors sell a service or product, usually internet access and phone cards. Then after the purchase, a customer gets a number of chances to win prizes through a computer game. The North Carolina General Assembly banned sweepstakes businesses in 2010 but the legislation stalled in court. Since then, sweepstakes businesses have been popping up in the Triad. Just last week, the city of Thomasville issued a 60-day moratorium on approving new ones while they study the issue further.
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