Furthermore, the Board addressed petitions filed by the OEC to ban seven adults from all casinos in Pennsylvania. These individuals had left a total of nine children unattended to engage in gambling activities. The consequences of their actions were as follows:
A male and female, both employees of Harrah's Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack, were placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving a 14-month-old child unattended in a vehicle in the casino's parking garage for 14 minutes to enter the casino's dealer school and human resources office. Both individuals were subsequently terminated from their employment.
A man was placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving a 6-year-old child in a vehicle alone in the parking lot of Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, for 28 minutes while he placed wagers at the sportsbook.
Another man was placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving a 2-year-old child alone in a parking lot inside a vehicle at the Valley Forge Casino Resort for 2 minutes while attempting, unsuccessfully, to gain entrance to the casino.
A gambler was placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving two children, ages 6 and 11, unattended in a vehicle in the parking lot of Rivers Casino Philadelphia for 6 minutes while conducting business at a cashier's cage in the casino.
A male patron was placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving two children, ages 3 and 13, unattended in a vehicle in the parking lot of Rivers Casino Philadelphia for 7 minutes while gambling in the sportsbook.
A male patron was placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving two children, ages 5 and 7, unattended in a vehicle in the parking garage of Rivers Casino Pittsburgh for 9 minutes while gambling in the sportsbook.
The Board emphasized that leaving minors unattended in parking lots, garages, hotels, or other venues at a casino is strictly prohibited. Such actions create an unsafe and potentially dangerous environment for children. Additionally, adults who leave minors unattended at Pennsylvania casinos may face criminal prosecution and be excluded from all Pennsylvania casinos. The Board reported a total of 370 incidents involving 596 minors where adults left children unattended to gamble at Pennsylvania casinos from the beginning of 2022 through May 2023.
In an effort to raise awareness about this issue and contribute to its resolution, the Board launched the "Don't Gamble with Kids" campaign. More information on this campaign can be found on the Board's dedicated website.
The next Board meeting is scheduled for July 26, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. It will occur in the Gaming Controls Board's Public Hearing Room on the second floor of the Strawberry Square Complex in Harrisburg.
