Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Adds 15 People to Gambling Exclusion List

Pennsylvania’s involuntary gambling exclusion lists have grown by 15 people as the state’s Gaming Control Board placed several gamblers due to various acts of misdemeanor, including leaving children unattended in vehicles.

15 Added to Pennsylvania’s Gambling Exclusion Lists 

Being placed on an Involuntary Exclusion List bars individuals from participating in gambling activities at any casino in Pennsylvania, through a Board-regulated online betting platform, or at a Video Gaming Terminal (VGT) location. These cases, brought forward by the Board’s Office of Chief Counsel and Office of Enforcement Counsel, bring the total number of individuals on the Board’s Involuntary Exclusion Lists to 1,405.

Out of the newly added ones, six individuals were added to the Board’s Involuntary Interactive Gaming Exclusion List due to fraudulent activities related to interactive gaming. However, the most shocking cases involve parents who have left their young children unattended in vehicles while they went on to gamble.

One of these cases involves a man who left his 3-year-old child unattended in a vehicle for four minutes in the Rivers Philadelphia Casino parking lot while he placed a bet at a sports wagering kiosk. Another similar case involves a man and woman who left a 5-year-old child in a non-running vehicle for 50 minutes in the Parx Casino parking lot, with the outside temperature at 19 degrees, while they played table games inside the casino.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has had to deal with similar cases. For example, in April, the regulator banned four individuals for leaving their children unattended while they went to gamble at sportsbooks and casinos.

About the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board 

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), the first entirely new agency established in the state in over 30 years, is responsible for enforcing the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act, commonly known as “Act 71,” and its accompanying regulations. Its mission is to maintain public trust in the integrity and credibility of Pennsylvania’s casino industry. 

Additionally, the Board is tasked with advancing the goals of limited gaming in the Commonwealth, including generating significant revenue, supporting the horse racing industry, creating broad economic opportunities, and boosting tourism. The PGCB does not regulate games of chance such as the Pennsylvania Lottery or those conducted by clubs and nonprofit organizations.