PGCB Levies $212,500 in Fines, Bans Three Adults from Entering Casinos

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has approved three consent agreements by the Board’s Office of Enforcement Counsel, resulting in three fines against two casino operators. The agreements were approved during the board’s recent public meeting, resulting in a total of $212,500 in fines against the two companies in question.

One of the operators is Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing, which violated The Keystone State’s gambling laws on several occasions and will have to pay two separate fines totaling $147,500.

According to the PGCB, the first fine of $97,500 relates to incidents occurring on Penn Interactive Ventures’ iGaming and sports betting platforms. The watchdog said that these platforms lacked the sufficient protection and as a result, players could create and play with multiple accounts using somebody else’s identifying information.

In addition, Penn Interactive Ventures allowed players to fund their accounts with stolen money or credit cards and withdraw money into accounts owned by criminals.

Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing received a separate fine of $50,000 for three instances of allowing underage players to access its Hollywood Casino York property.

The PGCB also issued a fine of $65,000 to Sugarhouse HSP Gaming, which failed to meet minimum staffing requirements at its Rivers Philadelphia Casino for over 40 days and failed to provide timely notification of a voucher theft to both the onsite Gaming Control Board staff and Pennsylvania State Police.

Adults Left Children Unattended While Gambling

In addition to fining the aforementioned operators, the regulator also acted on petitions filed by OEC and banned three adults from accessing casinos in the state. According to the PGCB, these three people left minors unattended while gambling which is strictly prohibited in Pennsylvania.

The ban concerns a male patron who left a 9-year-old unattended in a vehicle in the parking lot of Presque Isle Downs and Casino and a female patron who left three children, aged 4, 7 and 12, unattended while gambling at the same venue.

Another female patron left a 12-year-old unattended in a vehicle while playing slots at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. The PGCB reminded casino goers that they are prohibited from leaving minors unattended in the parking lot, garage, hotel or other venues at a casino since it exposes them to a variety of dangers.