PA Tackling Problem of Children Left Unattended at Casinos

There has been a disturbing trend emerging throughout Pennsylvania casinos in recent years. Parents have been leaving their children at casinos unattended in order to gamble, and unfortunately, these occurrences have seemingly been increasing. On Nov. 16, 2022 therefore, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) announced that it is launching an awareness campaign specifically designed to stop people from leaving children unattended at casinos.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, or the PGCB, has been frequently banning patrons who have been caught leaving their children unattended at casinos. However, these measures don't seem to have been effective in quelling this awful practice. This is why the new campaign is seen as being necessary.

Children Continue to Be Left Unattended at PA Casinos

Unfortunately, this is nothing new in the state of Pennsylvania as the Board's Bureau of Compliance has recorded 269 incidents involving a total of 441 unattended minors this year alone. If we compare these numbers to last year, there has been a clear increase when it comes to the prevalence of this issue. In 2021, there were “only” a total of 171 incidents involving 279 minors. Perhaps some of this increase is due to beefed-up surveillance and enforcement, but regardless, the increase is a concerning trend.

Just last month the PGCB announced that it had placed an additional eight adults on the Involuntary Exclusion List for leaving children unattended to gamble.

The PGCB Announces Awareness Campaign

The PGCB has launched a public awareness campaign dubbed “Don't Gamble with Kids” in an effort to address concerns regarding the number of minors being left in hotel rooms, food courts, and vehicles at casinos.

Kevin O'Toole is the executive director of the PGCB, and he had the following to say regarding the new campaign:

This has been an issue dating back to the opening of casinos in 2006. However, as the number of venues has increased and new types of gaming have been added, more incidents have been reported.

We are hopeful this campaign will raise awareness not only for those who gamble and are responsible for children, but also for the gaming public who we hope will be more diligent in looking out for children at risk.

Ultimately, we want everyone to understand the scope of this problem and know what to do if confronted with a situation in a parking lot, hotel or elsewhere. That is, immediately report the situation to casino or hotel security, who have extensive training on how to appropriately respond.

Kevin O'Toole, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

Mr. O'Toole continued by saying:

The welfare and safety of the minors is at the heart of the Board’s campaign and all adults should consider this before deciding to leave a child unattended.

Leaving minors unattended in the parking lot or garage, a hotel, or other venue at a casino creates a potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children. In its role to protect the public, the Board hopes to bring awareness of this very important issue through the “Don't Gamble with Kids” campaign.

PGCB Bans Seven Patrons For Life

The same day that it announced the new awareness campaign, the PGCB also explained that it has banned seven patrons for life after they left a total of 13 children unattended at a casino in order to gamble. The details of each incident are included below:

• Two male customers have been placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after they left two children, ages 2 and 7, unattended inside of a vehicle in the garage at Harrah's Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack. The children were left alone for 12 minutes while the adults placed bets in the sportsbook.
• A male customer has been placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving a 2-year-old child inside of a vehicle in the parking lot of the Valley Forge Casino Resort. The child was alone for 6 minutes while the adult bet on sports.
• A female customer has been placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving a 15-year-old child alone inside of her vehicle in the parking lot at Harrah's Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack. The child was alone for over 7 hours while the adult gambled at multiple casino games.
• A female customer has been placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving five children, one of whom was an infant, in the food court of the Valley Forge Casino Resort. The other children are ages 1, 9, 10, and 14. The children were alone for 64 minutes while the adult played slot machines.
• A male customer has been placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving a 13-year-old child inside of a vehicle in the parking lot of Presque Isle Downs & Casino. The child was alone for 21 minutes while the adult placed sports wagers.
• A male customer has been placed on the Involuntary Exclusion List after leaving three children, two 6-year-olds and an infant, alone inside of a vehicle in the parking lot of Presque Isle Downs & Casino. The children were alone for 16 minutes while the adult placed sports bets.

Multiple Pennsylvania casinos have made changes in recent years in an effort to encourage adults to stop bringing children to the casino. In November 2021, Valley Forge Casino implemented a six-part plan including infrared cameras to detect unattended children, although it seems like these efforts have not been entirely successful.

Valley Forge Casino near Philadelphia

The Board wants adults to be fully aware of the potential consequences involved with leaving children unattended at casinos. This initiative warns adults that criminal charges may be filed, and the Department of Children and Youth Services may be entitled to investigate these cases. Any adult caught gambling with an unattended minor on a casino's premises will be banned from all Pennsylvania casinos for life by landing on the Involuntary Exclusion List.

The PGCB Has Also Fined a Casino For Allowing Underage Gambler

The PGCB has approved a consent agreement to fine a casino for allowing an underage patron to access the gaming floor and subsequently gamble at a table game. The Board's Office of Enforcement Counsel and Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment, Inc, operator of Parx Casino in Bucks County, have negotiated a $10,000 fine in relation to the incident.

It seems like Pennsylvania has its own set of problems as this is certainly not the first time that underage patrons have gained access to a casino. Back in October, the PGCB fined a casino operator for allowing patrons to access restricted areas of the back of the house.

In that particular circumstance, one patron was able to steal numerous items stored by employees. Another patron was denied access to the casino floor but managed to gain access through a restricted area. Security is essential in the casino industry and it is important that all casinos keep a tight hold on procedures and keep restricted areas safe.

Safe Gambling Aplenty on the Internet

Nowadays, there really isn't any excuse for bringing children to the casino and leaving them unattended. There are numerous online gambling opportunities to partake in from home, which is a safe and easy alternative to visiting a land-based casino.

In fact, you can often take advantage of unique bonus offers and access a wide variety of different games. If you reside in the United States, there are numerous offshore gambling sites that maintain immaculate reputations for offering safe gambling. Feel free to explore this guide that covers the top online casino recommendations for US players.

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