The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has slapped Pilot Travel Centers with a hefty fine of $45,000 due to a case of underage gambling at one of its video gaming terminal (VGT) locations within the state.
This incident took place at a licensed truck stop in Smithton, Pennsylvania, where it was discovered that Pilot Travel Centers had failed to have a certified employee on duty, as mandated by the board.
The $45,000 fine was the result of negotiations between the PGCB's Office of Enforcement Counsel and Pilot Travel Centers.
Four Pennsylvania Adults Face Bans for Leaving Children UnattendedIn a separate development, four adults have found themselves on the Pennsylvania Involuntary Exclusion List for a serious offense - leaving children unattended while indulging in gambling activities.
A female player raised concerns when she left three children, aged 10, 14, and 15, inside a running vehicle in the parking garage of the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course. Shockingly, she continued to gamble inside the Pennsylvania venue for a full two hours and two minutes, with the children left unsupervised.
Another female patron also left minors unattended at different casinos. In one instance, a 10-year-old was abandoned in a vehicle near the car park of Rivers Casino Philadelphia for a troubling 22 minutes. This incident took a concerning turn when the child exited the vehicle and entered the casino after the car was struck by another vehicle.
On the second occasion, children aged 11 and 12 were left alone in a vehicle in the parking lot of Live! Philadelphia Casino. The children remained unsupervised for a worrying 25 minutes while the patron went inside to collect a promotional gift.
Child Found Wandering in Casino Parking GarageA male player faced a ban after leaving two children, aged three and seven, inside a running vehicle at the Live! Philadelphia Casino in Pennsylvania. The seven-year-old ventured out of the vehicle and was discovered wandering the garage, while the younger child remained alone in the car. Both children were left unattended for a total of 24 minutes while the adult indulged in gambling at the on-site sportsbook.
Lastly, another male player received a ban for leaving a five-year-old unattended in a vehicle at Wind Creek Bethlehem Casino. The child was left alone for a troubling 27 minutes, with the vehicle not running, despite an outside temperature of only 22 degrees.
The PGCB emphasized that these actions should serve as a stark reminder that it is strictly prohibited for adults to leave minors unattended in casino parking lots, garages, hotels, or any other casino venue. Such actions pose a potentially hazardous and unsafe environment for children. Moreover, leaving minors unattended at a Pennsylvania casino can lead to criminal prosecution for the responsible adult, in addition to being banned from all Pennsylvania casinos.