The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has issued Pilot Travel Centers with a fine of $45,000 (£36,716/€42,307) for underage gambling at one of its video gaming terminals (VGT) locations in the state.
The underage gambling breach was identified at a qualified truck stop in the Smithton area of Pennsylvania. Pilot Travel Centers was also flagged for not having a Board-credentialed employee on duty.
A financial penalty of $45,000 was agreed following negotiations between the PGCB’s Office of Enforcement Counsel and Pilot Travel Centers.
Four Pennsylvania adults banned for leaving children unattended
In other news, four adults have been placed on the Pennsylvania Involuntary Exclusion List for leaving children unattended while gambling.
A female player left three children – aged 10, 14 and 15 – in a running vehicle in the parking garage of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. The individual gambled inside for two hours and two minutes while the children were unattended.
Another female patron left minors unattended on two occasions at separate casinos. A 10-year-old was left in a vehicle near the car park of Rivers Casino Philadelphia for 22 minutes. It was noted that the child left the vehicle and entered the casino after the car was struck by another vehicle.
On the second occasion, children aged 11 and 12 were left in a vehicle in the parking lot of Live! Philadelphia Casino. The children were unattended for 25 minutes while the patron went inside to obtain a promotional gift.
Child found wandering casino parking garage
A male player was banned for leaving children – three and seven – in a running vehicle at the Live! Philadelphia Casino. The seven-year-old left the vehicle and was found wondering the garage, with the younger child left in the car alone. Both children were left for a total of 24 minutes while the adult gambled at the on-site sportsbook.
Finally, another male player was banned for leaving a five-year-old unattended in a vehicle at Wind Creek Bethlehem Casino. The child was left for 27 minutes in a non-running vehicle when the outside temperature was 22 degrees.
“The Board’s actions serve as a reminder that adults are prohibited from leaving minors unattended in the parking lot or garage, a hotel, or other venues at a casino since it creates a potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children,” the PGCB said.
“Leaving minors unattended at a Pennsylvania casino also subjects the offending adult to criminal prosecution in addition to exclusion from all Pennsylvania casinos.”