The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has taken action against Pilot Travel Centers, imposing a fine of $45,000 for a case of underage gambling at one of its video gaming terminals (VGT) locations within the state. The incident occurred at a qualified truck stop situated in Smithton, Pennsylvania, prompting regulatory action from the PGCB.
The breach of underage gambling regulations was identified at the Smithton truck stop. Alongside this, Pilot Travel Centers faced an additional violation for failing to have a board-credentialed employee on duty during the incident.
After negotiations between the PGCB’s Office of Enforcement Counsel and Pilot Travel Centers, a financial penalty of $45,000 was agreed upon.
In a separate development, the PGCB has placed four adults on the Pennsylvania Involuntary Exclusion List due to instances of leaving children unattended while gambling.
One 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 engaged in gambling activities within the Pennsylvania venue for two hours and two minutes while the children remained unattended.
Another female patron left minors unattended on two occasions at different casinos. During one instance, a 10-year-old was left in a vehicle near the car park of Rivers Casino Philadelphia for 22 minutes. The child left the vehicle and entered the casino after the car was involved in an accident.
On a separate occasion, children aged 11 and 12 were left unattended in a vehicle in the parking lot of Live! Philadelphia Casino for 25 minutes while the patron went inside to obtain a promotional gift.
A male player was also banned for leaving children, aged three and seven, in a running vehicle at the Live! Philadelphia Casino. The seven-year-old left the vehicle and was found wandering the garage, while the younger child remained alone in the car. Both children were left unattended for a total of 24 minutes while the adult gambled at the on-site sportsbook.
Lastly, another male player faced exclusion for leaving a five-year-old unattended in a vehicle at Wind Creek Bethlehem Casino for 27 minutes, with an outside temperature of 22 degrees.
The PGCB emphasized the importance of not leaving minors unattended at Pennsylvania casinos, stating that such actions create potentially unsafe and dangerous situations for the children. Additionally, it highlighted that leaving minors unattended at a Pennsylvania casino can lead to criminal prosecution for the offending adult, in addition to exclusion from all Pennsylvania casinos.
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