PGCB bans eight adults from gambling over unattended minors

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board placed eight people on its Involuntary Casino Exclusion List, barring them from the state's land-based and online gambling activities. The exclusions followed incidents in which minors were left unattended while the adults gambled at properties in Pennsylvania.

One case involved a woman at Rivers Casino Philadelphia who played in the table gaming area for 1 hour and 52 minutes while her 11-month-old stayed in a parked vehicle. At Wind Creek Bethlehem, a man and a woman gambled on slot machines for 1 hour and 14 minutes, having left an 11-year-old at the food court. A second man and woman, meanwhile, were gambling on slot machines at Live! Philadelphia Casino for 23 minutes while an 11-year-old and two dogs remained in a vehicle in the parking lot.

Reportedly, the PGCB has defended the measure as a way to make the rule plain: grown-ups are not permitted to leave children on their own so they can keep playing, since casinos are not safe places for young people. The state's Involuntary Exclusion Lists now include 1,512 people, the board said. Casinos and properties, the PGCB added, must also answer for stopping these situations from arising on their grounds.

It was reported that casinos have been seeking to strengthen security and surveillance, and that incidents still occur. The report said the relatively quick discovery of the cases indicates that licensed operators are devoting more resources and staff to preventing minors from being left unattended.