HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has revoked the gambling privileges of eight individuals, adding them to the state’s Involuntary Casino Exclusion List following a series of incidents involving unattended minors and other regulatory violations.
The board’s action prohibits the individuals from engaging in gambling activities at any licensed casino in Pennsylvania and underscores the regulator’s ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable individuals and uphold gaming industry standards.
Five of the newly excluded individuals were sanctioned for leaving children unattended while gambling at Pennsylvania casino properties:
- A woman was placed on the exclusion list after leaving an 11-month-old infant alone in a vehicle parked in the garage of Rivers Casino Philadelphia for nearly two hours while she played table games inside the casino.
- A man and woman were excluded after leaving an 11-year-old child unattended in the food court at Wind Creek Bethlehem for approximately 74 minutes while they gambled on slot machines.
- Another man and woman were barred after leaving an 11-year-old child and two dogs unattended in a vehicle at the parking lot of Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia while they entered the casino to play slot machines. The child and animals remained in the vehicle for approximately 23 minutes.
According to the PGCB, such incidents create preventable safety risks and continue to be a significant enforcement concern. Pennsylvania regulations prohibit adults from leaving minors unattended in casino parking facilities, hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, or any other areas of a gaming property while gambling.
The board said the statewide exclusions serve not only as a penalty but also as a warning to patrons that child neglect on casino grounds will result in serious consequences, including the loss of gambling privileges across the Commonwealth.
To combat the problem, the PGCB continues to promote its public awareness initiative, “Don’t Gamble with Kids,” which educates patrons about the dangers and legal consequences of leaving children unattended at gaming venues.
In addition to the five child-safety related exclusions, the board approved the placement of three other individuals on the Involuntary Casino Exclusion List for separate matters presented by the PGCB’s Office of Chief Counsel and Office of Enforcement Counsel.
With the latest actions, the total number of individuals on Pennsylvania’s various involuntary exclusion lists has risen to 1,512, reflecting the board’s ongoing enforcement of gaming regulations and patron protection measures.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s next public meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Nov. 18, 2026, in the Public Hearing Room on the second floor of the Strawberry Square Complex in Harrisburg. Meeting agendas and additional information will be made available through the board’s website prior to the session.
Editor’s Note
Pennsylvania’s Involuntary Casino Exclusion List is designed to protect public safety, preserve the integrity of regulated gaming, and deter conduct deemed harmful or contrary to the objectives of the Commonwealth’s gaming laws.
