City puts 180-day moratorium on new city gambling businesses

By Susan K. Lamb Riverbend News Live Oak City Council members considered Ordinance 1459 at the Tuesday, Feb. 9 meeting. This ordinance, which passed unanimously, puts a temporary 180-day moratorium on new, simulated gaming and electronic type sweepstakes in the city. The 180 days gives the city the opportunity to look into the issue and decide if it is in the best interest of the city to allow new gambling businesses. Audience members suggested to the council that 14 such businesses are already open in the city limits. Live Oak City Manager George Curtis said later that new gambling business applications to operate in the city must apply for what used to be an occupational license