PGCB Bans 15 Gamblers, Four for Leaving Children Unattended in Vehicles

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB, or the “Board”) took action to place 15 individuals on its various Involuntary Exclusion Lists. Among these actions, the Board added four adults to the casino exclusion list for leaving minors unattended on casino property while they were gambling.

Board Places Four Adults on Involuntary Exclusion Lists for Leaving Children Unattended

According to the Board, one male patron was placed on the exclusion list after leaving two 3-year-old children unattended in a vehicle for 16 minutes while he gambled at the sportsbook at Parx Casino. 

In a separate incident, a female patron left two 11-year-old children alone in a vehicle for approximately 30 minutes while she played slot machines at Presque Isle Downs & Casino.

The Board also cited a female patron who left a 13-year-old unattended in a vehicle for more than an hour while gambling at slot machines at Wind Creek Bethlehem Casino.

Finally, a female patron was excluded after leaving two children, ages 5 and 11, unattended in a vehicle for 27 minutes while she gambled at slot machines at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.

“Don’t Gamble with Kids” Aims to Curb Such Cases

Unfortunately, people leaving their children unattended to go gamble happens more frequently than one might think. According to the PGCB, there are up to hundreds of such cases in the state each year. A parent’s or guardian’s choice to leave a child unattended in a vehicle or hotel room poses a serious risk to the child and may lead to significant and enduring repercussions for the adult, according to the Board.

In response, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has launched an awareness campaign titled “Don’t Gamble with Kids.” The initiative aims to highlight the dangers of leaving children unattended, targeting not only adults who may consider doing so to enter a casino. In addition, the initiative aims to educate the broader gaming public to remain vigilant and report such incidents before a tragedy occurs. 

The Board emphasizes that leaving children unattended, even for a single bet, is never worth the risk and that collective awareness can help prevent these situations. It urges casino employees and members of the public to report suspicious situations when they observe them. 

In addition to a new public service announcement, the campaign includes social media messaging and a variety of on-site materials for casinos aimed at increasing awareness. Through these collective efforts, the PGCB hopes to protect children from this form of abuse and neglect.