Pennsylvania’s Continued Push for Responsible Gambling
In a press statement released by the PA Gaming Control Board on the 24th of May, the regulatory body announced that it had fined a casino operator and gaming manufacturer licensee. According to PGCB, the fines were levied due to violations of license requirements. The total sum of the fines issued is $100,350. The statement also noted that the fines were a result of consent judgments entered between the PGCB’s Office of Enforcement Counsel and the violators.
In the first case, Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, LLC, which operates Hollywood Casino York, was fined $78,000 for not meeting minimum security staffing requirements at its casino. The PGCB held that this violated its player protection and consumer safety guidelines. The other violator is a Table Game Manufacturing Company, TCS John Huxley America, Inc. and TCS John Huxley Europe, Ltd, fined for not filing Principal Licensing Applications. TCS John Huxley was fined $22,350.
These fines are a constant reminder to the public that gambling activities must be done within legal boundaries. While the fun and allure of winning real money from playing entertaining games is notable, breaking laws in pursuit of excitement is not excusable. The PGCB also announced an involuntary ban of five adults from casinos statewide. These bans relate to isolated cases of adults leaving kids unattended while playing games in a casino. The cases include:
- A male and female patron were placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving five children, ages 2, 4, 5, 11, and 13, unattended in a vehicle in the Presque Isle Downs Casino & Racetrack parking lot for 35 minutes while they gambled on slot machines;
- A male patron was placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving an 11-year-old child unattended in a vehicle in the parking garage of the Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia for 30 minutes while he gambled in the sportsbook;
- A male patron was placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving a 10-year-old child unattended in a vehicle that he parked along a construction fence outside the valet area of the Rivers Casino Pittsburgh for 5 minutes while he gambled in the sportsbook;
- A female patron was placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving two children, ages 8 and 9, unattended in a vehicle in the Mohegan Pennsylvania parking lot for 45 minutes while she gambled on slot machines.
The Board also heard an appeal by a Pennsylvania woman seeking to be removed from the Involuntary Exclusion List. The female patron was initially placed on the List after leaving her two daughters (aged 8 and 12) in the parking lot of Lady Luck Casino while gambling back in 2017. The appeal was refused, and the female patron remains banned from all PA casinos.
Since 2022, the PGCB has identified over 359 incidents of adults leaving children unattended to play games at a casino. These incidents involve more than 500 minors, showing a rising problem in responsible gaming. PGCB also informs the public that leaving minors unattended at PA casinos is a crime for which you can be prosecuted. The dangers of leaving children unattended in such spaces include:
- Being placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List
- Reports being made to the child welfare authorities
- Legal costs and litigation charges
- Child neglect
According to Kevin O’Toole, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, “The unfortunate frequency of these dangerous events has led the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to create Don’t Gamble with Kids. We also want the gaming public to understand the scope of this problem and if they see a child unattended in a parking lot, hotel, or elsewhere to report it to casino personnel or local authorities.”
It is clear that the fines handed down by the PA Gaming Control Board for leaving minors unattended in casino spaces reflect the importance of responsible gambling practices. These fines remind us that we must all be accountable for our actions and work towards creating a safe and secure gambling environment. Leaving minors unattended can have serious consequences, not just financially but also in terms of the potential harm and negative impact on the children involved. It is imperative that both gaming establishments and patrons prioritize responsible gambling and prioritize the protection of vulnerable individuals, especially minors, in the casino environment.