SAN FRANCISCO—San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera settled a lawsuit on January 30 against the proprietors and landlords of Net Stop Business Center, an internet café where alleged gambling has taken place. According to a news release from the City Attorney’s office, activities at the café has led to an increase of police calls to the Excelsior location and Figure 8 Technologies Inc., a software company that provided the gambling software for Net Stop.
In the lawsuit settlement filed in San Francisco Superior Court, Net Stop’s owners have agreed to shut its doors within the next 60 days and not operate a similar business in the city for five years. Herrera indicated that the software company, also agreed to a court order to stop providing, supporting, or maintaining gambling software anywhere in the state of California in the next five years. Figure 8 is expected to pay more than $25,000 to the city of San Francisco and halt all usage of their software currently being used at various establishments.
The lawsuit was filed on November 7, 2013, alleged that Net Stop violated state and local law by allowing computerized slot machine games for customers to purchase electronic “points” to be used to redeem for cash. The lawsuit was amended on December 8, 2013 by Herrera to include Figure 8 as a defendant.
“We were able to negotiate settlements and tough injunctions against both Net Stop and Figure 8 that abate a neighborhood nuisance in the Excelsior, strike a blow against the criminal activity that has come with it, and will even curb illegal gambling statewide,” said Herrera. “We will move aggressively to protect neighborhoods from anyone who isn’t following the law. I’m grateful to Chief Suhr and the San Francisco Police Department for their efforts to combat the problems at Net Stop, and for building a body of evidence that enabled us to file a strong case. I’m also thankful to Supervisor John Avalos for his leadership and responsiveness to the community.”
“This is a big win for Excelsior residents,” said Avalos, whose District includes the Net Stop location at Mission Street and Excelsior Avenue. “When this establishment closes, people are going to feel safer on the streets and have even greater pride in the neighborhood.”
Prior to Net Stop opening, San Francisco Police Officers were only called to the location two times, but from November 2012 to October 2013, the SFPD responded to more than 202 calls at the Net Stop location. Residents have voiced their concern about the establishment on Yelp.
Allyson R, of San Francisco wrote, “The people who frequent this business are up to no good! Gambling, prostitution, smoking on the street right next to our bus stop, graffiti, break-ins, and general sketchy behavior. Not an appropriate business for our neighborhood. It seems like all the businesses that get rejected elsewhere can move here. But we don’t want this kind of place in the Excelsior.”
Tom M writes, have heard way too many complaints about this online gambling casino. Not appropriate for the Excelsior District as they have the one of the highest proportions of kids and families in San Francisco. The recent crime stats around their business seems to back that up as well……this is probably more suitable in the Mission, Broadway, or the Tenderloin.
By LaDale Anderson
