The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) is responsible for overseeing the gambling sector in the state and enforcing its rules. This includes monitoring online casino games, sports wagering, video gaming terminals, and retail casino gambling.
Recently, the PGCB imposed bans on four adults after they allegedly left a total of six minors unattended in order to participate in gambling activities. It is prohibited for adults to leave minors unattended at hotels, parking lots, or other areas adjacent to casinos in Pennsylvania, and such actions are subject to criminal prosecution. Adults found guilty of leaving a minor unattended are added to an Involuntary Exclusion List, banning them from casino gambling across the state.
The incidents prompting the bans occurred at various casinos in the state. One female visitor of Live! Casino Philadelphia left two minors, ages 10 and 13, in a car in the parking lot of the venue while she gambled on slots. Another female patron at Mohegan Pennsylvania Casino left a 13-year-old unattended in a hallway while gambling on slot machines. A male patron at Live! Casino Pittsburgh left two minors, aged 6 and 8, alone in a car in the parking lot while he played slot machines. Finally, another male patron at Valley Forge Casino Resort left a 1-year-old child unattended in a locked car in the parking lot while gambling at a table game and a sportsbook.
Law enforcement intervened in this last incident, breaking the car’s window to extract the infant. The male involved attempted to flee the scene in his car, where the police uncovered illegal drugs. In addition to the bans, the PGCB also approved a $40,000 fine against Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association, the operator of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, after individuals under the age of 21 were able to access the gaming floor and gamble on three occasions.