Self-Excluded Woman Wins Jackpot in Pennsylvania; She Will Never Get the Money

A woman who had previously self-excluded from gambling in Pennsylvania was able to secure a jackpot payout at the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, in what is a bizarre turn of events.

Woman Tries to Submit Tax Form over Jackpot Win – Casino Discovers She Is Self-Excluded

Upon winning the jackpot, the woman had to fill out a W-2G tax form, which is how the casino determined that she had previously self-excluded, and led to a legal nightmare for all parties involved.

The slot jackpot win was naturally refused, with the woman excluded statewide and theoretically not able to play. However, monitoring every customer has proven a tall order for casinos, and people do slip in – although those who do not belong on a gaming floor rarely go undiscovered. 

However, there could be room for improvement, with security teams sometimes saving time by eyeballing customers and assessing their age to wave them through. It is possible that the woman was admitted without having her ID checked, which is why the situation occurred in the first place. 

As to what happens in situations such as these, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has clear rules set just in case. Money that has been won this way, and specifically by self-excluded players, is automatically forfeited by the player and the casino and forwarded towards the regulator’s Compulsive and Problem Gambling programs. 

As to the size of the jackpot, it is not clear how much the woman ended up winning, but a W-2G tax form is issued every time someone wins at least $2,000 while playing slot machines. In other words, the woman must have won at least that much to have triggered the procedure that led to her discovery. 

The PGCB will probably take issue with this incident during its next meeting, but it is not known whether the regulator would proceed with enforcement action against the casino.

For its part, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course will certainly have to tighten rules around admittance, making sure that people are only let in after an ID has been reviewed by the staff. 

Details about the Woman’s Entry into the Casino Are Not Confirmed Publicly

Then again, it is possible for the woman to have entered on a fake ID originally, although details about this still remain unclear. The state’s self-exclusion program was introduced back in 2006, and it has been an important pillar of the Keystone State’s efforts in limiting harmful gaming practices.

Since it launched, the program has registered 4,684 violations, usually perpetrated by the individuals who have self-excluded. But excluding in one state may not be enough, which is why some lawmakers have been calling for a nationwide self-exclusion program.

Otherwise, the New Jersey woman, who clearly has had gambling issues, will simply keep changing states to play – with casinos unsuspecting of her behavior and vulnerable background.