Wind Creek Casino Fined After Underage Guests Enter Casino Floor

By Jane Shaw Senior Editor Updated: 06/12/2024

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We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she’s our gambling tech expert. Jane’s also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.

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Wind Creek Casino Fined

It was recently reported that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has issued Wind Creek Bethlehem with a hefty fine of $125,000. This action comes in response to a series of violations where nearly a dozen underage people managed to gain access to the gaming floor of the casino, despite legal age restrictions.

According to reports, these incidents occurred intermittently between November 2021 and September 2023. The youngsters involved were aged between 18 and 20, which is below the legal gambling age of 21 in the state.

Wind Creek Addressing the Issue

As per the agreement, Wind Creek Bethlehem is said to have taken measures to address the issue and ensure compliance with regulations. This includes permanently banning some of the underage violators from the premises and issuing citations through the Pennsylvania State Police.

In addition, the casino has agreed to implement a range of preventive measures to avoid similar issues in the future. Signage detailing penalties for attempting to gain access with false identification will be prominently displayed within the premises.

Furthermore, as part of the ‘What’s Really at Stake? Underage gambling will cost you!’ initiative, PGCB warning posters will be strategically placed to raise awareness among patrons.

To further enhance enforcement efforts, Wind Creek Bethlehem has ramped up ID checks for guests who appear to be under the age of 30. Over the course of two years, a staggering 737,257 IDs have been checked by casino staff. This has resulted in the identification of 4,779 underage people attempting to enter the gaming floor.

Patrons Leaving Minors in Vehicles

According to reports, the PGCB also recently dealt with an unnamed couple who left their five-month-old infant unattended in a car while they indulged in gambling at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack in Delaware County.

Despite leaving the car’s engine running, they went into the casino to gamble while the outdoor temperature at the time was recorded at 47 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, the child did not suffer any harm, but the couple has been banned from all Pennsylvania casinos as a result.

The PGCB also addressed another case during the same session, where a woman’s request to be removed from the involuntary exclusion list was denied. The woman had been added to the list in 2017 after leaving a four-year-old child alone in a vehicle at a gaming establishment.

With the engine turned off and the outside temperature soaring to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, the woman was found to have prioritized gambling over the safety of the child, returning after around 15 minutes.

The PGCB said that adults were prohibited from leaving children:

…Unattended in the parking lot or garage, a hotel, or other venues at a casino since it creates a potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children. Leaving minors unattended at a Pennsylvania casino also subjects the offending adult to criminal prosecution in addition to exclusion from all Pennsylvania casinos.

Officials said that these incidents highlight the importance of stringent enforcement measures and the need for continuous vigilance to ensure the safety and well-being of all patrons, particularly vulnerable people such as minors.