Pinebluff commissioners have amended the town ordinances to allow Internet gaming as an accessory use in the town’s general business district.

The action took place during the board meeting Thursday evening.

In the current ordinance, gaming operations, which are only allowed in the general business district, must be a minimum of 500 feet from any building being used as a home. The amended ordinance adds language that says that requirement shall not apply if the electronic gaming operation includes no more than two electronic gaming machines and if the only dwelling located within 500 feet of the electronic gaming operation is owned or occupied by the owner of the electronic gaming operation.

The amendment also changes the time such businesses may operate to 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The prior ordinance allowed their operation from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

The change was sought by several business owners who said the current restrictions were too difficult if they only wanted a couple of gaming machines, Mayor Earlene McLamb said.

The town Planning Board recommended the changes at its meeting in July.

Prior to the vote, a public hearing was held. No residents spoke.

Pinebluff currently has one Internet gaming cafe, the Pinebluff Internet Cafe, which opened in 2010 and has 33 gaming machines. It is located next to the C.P. Store on U.S. 1.

“When it (Pinebluff Internet Cafe) first came to town there was a lot of concern and a lot of complaints,” McLamb said. “But we have not really had any concerns or complaints recently.”

Internet gaming cafes and other entertainment businesses are not permitted as uses within the town’s central business district, which runs south from Chicago Avenue to Boston Avenue.

Internet gaming cafes are allowed in the general business district, which runs from Chicago Avenue north to the town limit.

Contact Tom Embrey at (910) 693-2484 or by email at tembrey@thepilot.com.