The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has announced the addition of 17 individuals to its Involuntary Exclusion Lists. Being placed on these lists prohibits the individuals from participating in gambling activities at any Pennsylvania casino, state-regulated online betting platform, or Video Gaming Terminal (VGT) location.
These updates, handled by the PGCB’s Office of Chief Counsel and Office of Enforcement Counsel, bring the total number of individuals on the Involuntary Exclusion Lists to 1,379.
Incidents of Minors Left Unattended While Gambling
Four of the individuals added to the Involuntary Casino Exclusion List were cited for leaving minors unattended in potentially dangerous situations while they gambled. The incidents include:
- Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course: A male patron left three children, aged 2, 11, and 12, inside a vehicle in the parking garage for over two hours while gambling at table games.
- Rivers Casino Philadelphia:
- On one occasion, a male patron left two children, aged 3 and 12, in a vehicle for nine minutes while gambling at the sportsbook.
- On a second occasion, he left two 14-year-olds unattended in a vehicle for 10 minutes while at the sportsbook.
- Presque Isle Downs & Casino: A male patron left three children, aged 8, 11, and 13, unattended in a vehicle in the parking lot for 10 minutes while gambling at the sportsbook.
- Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia: A male patron left a 12-year-old child in the casino lobby for 41 minutes while gambling at slot machines.
The PGCB emphasized that leaving children unattended in parking lots, garages, or casino venues creates unsafe environments. To address this issue, the PGCB has launched an awareness campaign titled “Don’t Gamble with Kids”, complementing ongoing efforts by casinos to mitigate such behavior.
Additional Exclusions
- Casino Cheating: Seven individuals were added to the Involuntary Casino Exclusion List for actions deemed detrimental to the Commonwealth. This includes four individuals from Texas who were caught using a dice sliding scheme to cheat and win nearly $50,000 at Hollywood Casino Morgantown. Their activities were detected and promptly shut down.
- Fraudulent Actions: Six individuals were placed on the Involuntary Interactive Gaming List for engaging in fraudulent activities on state-regulated online gambling platforms.
Upcoming PGCB Meeting
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will hold its next public meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in the Public Hearing Room on the second floor of the Strawberry Square Complex in Harrisburg. The agenda for the meeting will be made available on the PGCB’s official website prior to the event.
