Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Issues Fines, Excludes Players

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has fined Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie County $81,575.

This came in the form of two fines: One for $50,000 and the other for $31,575. 

They’ve also added/rejected requests of nine people on its involuntary exclusion list. 

In other Pennsylvania casino news, a man was denied a $57,000 jackpot from Parx Casino earlier this month. 

Learning More About The Fines

As mentioned, the fines came in the form of $50,000 and $31,575. 

The $50,000 fine was assessed for having fewer than the approved number of active slot machines on the floor. 

The $31,575 fine came from their failure to file a Principal License application, and it was directed toward the racino owner, Churchill Downs Inc. 

PGCB Exclusionary List News

In addition to these fines, the PGCB has also placed or denied nine people onto involuntary exclusion lists. These people are now banned from playing at casinos in Pennsylvania. They’re also unable to bet online. 

That list now has over 1,300 people on it. 

In a statement released by the PCGB, they provided details about three people. 

There were two added to the list that included: 

• “A male patron who left a 5-year-old unattended in a vehicle in the valet parking lot at Rivers Casino Philadelphia for 12 minutes as he attempted to conduct financial business in the casino...”
• “A male patron who left a 10-year-old unattended in a vehicle with the windows rolled up and engine not running in the parking garage of Wind Creek Casino for 45 minutes with an outside temperature of 90 degrees while he gambled on slot machines.

Then, there was another person who was denied removal, who, according to the PCGB: 

• “A female patron who, in 2022, left three minors, ages 10, 14 and 15, unattended in a vehicle in the parking garage of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course for one hour 41 minutes while she gambled at slot machines.”

PGCB Speaks Out

To conclude their statement, the PCGB wrote:

“Actions such as these to deny statewide gambling privileges 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. To compliment the efforts by casinos to mitigate this issue, the Board created an awareness campaign, “Don’t Gamble with Kids”.

The Gaming Control Board is scheduled to meet next at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 in the Board’s Public Hearing Room located on the second floor of the Strawberry Square Complex in Harrisburg. More information, including the agenda, will be posted on the Board’s website prior to the meeting.”