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Pennsylvania casinos face $150,000 in fines for underage access and safety breaches

From underage gamblers slipping in to ignored COVID-19 rules, these casinos paid the price. Will stricter oversight finally enforce compliance?

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Pennsylvania casinos face $150,000 in fines for underage access and safety breaches

Pennsylvania's gaming watchdog, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB), approved fines against three operators in the state totaling $150,000. Penn National, the operator that has ownership and interest in 39 gaming and racing venues across the US is among the operators that were fined.

"The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) today approved consent agreements between the PGCB's Office of Enforcement Counsel and three casino operators resulting in a total of $150,000 in fines," reads a statement released by the PGCB

Fines were imposed against Chester Downs and Marina , LLC, operator of Harrah's Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack. The PGCB also imposed a fine against PID, LLC, operator of Presque Isle Downs and Casino. The gaming watchdog revealed that it came to a consent agreement with the three operators regarding the fines.

Two Operators Fined by the PGCB

The PGCB explained that the fine against PID relates to a breach of the current COVID-19 safety measures. The regulator found that the operator allowed a patron to consume alcohol while on the gaming floor. Current regulations that aim at curbing the spread of COVID-19 prohibit all bars from serving alcohol unless accompanied by a meal. Consequently, the operator was fined $45,000 for the violation.

On the other hand, Chester Downs and Marina was fined $22,500 due to "failure to protect assets," according to the PGCB. The breaches relate to two incidents. The gaming watchdog described that the first incident is related to a patron at the venue who stole $955 in playing chips from a table game. The second incident relates to another patron who stole some $24,000 in cash after a cash drawer wasn't closed.

Penn National Receives Two Fines

Two more fines were approved for Penn National. The first fine relates to an incident at the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course facility in Dauphin County. The gaming regulator explained that a single incident occurred with four people under the age of 21 trying to access the gaming floor. Two out of the four individuals managed to access the gaming floor and one bet on a slot machine. The individuals were aged 16, 17, 18, and 19 years old. As a result of this incident, the operator was fined $25,000.

The second fine which was introduced is related to hollywoodcasino.com and barstoolsportsbook.com, internet gaming affiliates of Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association. The Gaming Control Board explained that the websites allowed self-excluded individuals to gain access and gamble. PGCB said that nine individuals, currently included in an iGaming Self-Exclusion List were able to gain access to casino-type gaming or sports wagering. Some of the individuals were also able to place wagers. As a result of those breaches, the operator was fined $57,500.

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