Underage gaming violations sees PGCB issue $210,000 fines

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has issued fines totalling £210,000 to two of the state’s land-based establishment, after a series of underage gaming violations.

Coming to the fore as a result of board approvals, the two parties under question are Mount Airy #1 LLC, who operates the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County and has been penalised $170,000, as well as Mountainview Thoroughbred Racing Association LLC, operator of Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Dauphin County, which was fined $40,000.

Delving a little deeper into each penalty package, Mount Airy’s failures are spread across 17 incidents, dating back to the beginning of 2016, a result of which saw a number of individuals gain access to the gaming floor, wager at a variety of machines, occasionally spread across a multi day period, in addition to also cashing out at the cage and being served alcohol.

Mountainview’s Hollywood Casino’s fine stemmed from four incidents, one of which saw a male access the gaming floor, two came as a result of a 19 and 20-year old accessing the gaming floor, wagering at slot machines and being served alcohol on different occasions and finally a 20-year-old female gained access to the gaming floor on three occasions, was issued a player’s club card and also cashed out at the cage.

The PGCB has also revealed further financial figures for the month of November, which has seen table games revenue decrease 1.3 per cent year on year to $71.2m from 2017’s $72.2m.

Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem is highlighted as the market leader, however its revenues of $17.7m is a 11.68 per cent yoy drop from $20.1m.

Harrah’s Philadelphia saw the largest jump, its 23.39 per cent boost seeing the property come in at $5.5m (2017: $4.4m), whilst Mohegan Sun Pocono who had the unwelcome honour of seeing the largest percentage decline, coming in at 26.15 per cent below the previous years $3.3m at $2.4m.

Furthermore, the first set sports betting report was also published, which saw the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, operator of the only operational sportsbook during the reporting timeframe, revealing a handle of $1.4m and adjusted gross revenue after payouts of $508,996, with the state taking tax revenue of $173,058 and the local jurisdiction $10,179.