Pennsylvania regulator bars eight adults from casinos for leaving minors unattended while gambling

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has placed eight people on its Involuntary Casino Exclusion List, barring them from the state's land-based and online casinos and other gambling activities. According to the regulator, the exclusions relate to cases in which adults left minors unattended while they gambled at properties across the state.

One case involved a woman who left her 11-month-old in a vehicle parked at Rivers Casino Philadelphia for 1 hour and 52 minutes while she played at the table gaming area. In another, a man and a woman left an 11-year-old at the food court of Wind Creek Bethlehem for 1 hour and 14 minutes while they played slot machines.

A further pair, also a man and a woman, left an 11-year-old and two dogs in a vehicle in the parking lot of Live! Philadelphia Casino for 23 minutes while they gambled on slot machines.

The PGCB has argued that, although the measure may appear severe, it is needed to underline that adults must not leave minors unattended in order to keep gambling. The regulator points out that such environments are not safe for children.

With the latest additions, the state's Involuntary Exclusion Lists now include 1,512 individuals. The PGCB has also placed responsibility on casinos and their properties to ensure that such incidents do not occur on their premises.

Casinos have been working to strengthen security and surveillance, though incidents still happen. The relatively quick discovery of these cases suggests that licensed operators are treating the responsibility seriously and are devoting more resources and staff to preventing minors from being left unattended.