A fine of $150,000 made against Rivers Casino will include over a dozen charges concerning slot machines which were improperly connected and to underage gambling.
The penalty was issued on Wednesday, the 20th of July by the state Gaming Control Board. This is now the third fine for the operator Holdings Acquisition Co. due to underage gambling. In fact, $80,000, which is over half the fine, involves gamblers under 21 years old being allowed to play in the casino. The individuals were either not asked for any form of identification or only asked once in the establishment.
Underage Accusations
One instance was that of a young man who came to Rivers Casino to celebrate his 21st birthday and was given a duplicate player’s card. It later transpired that he had been granted a card when only 20 years old and had played at the casino nine times previously.
Further situations involved teenagers being asked for their identification once they were already inside the casino. They then presented the security officers with cards which belonged to other players.
Disincentives
A lawyer who represents Rivers Casino, Michael Sklar, says that more blame should be attached to teenagers who try to access casinos illegally as opposed to fining the casinos. He backed up Rivers by claiming that it does not support underage gambling in any way.
“There is no way that you can keep them out 100 percent of the time,” he explained.
Greg Fajt, the Gaming Control Board chairman, said that different disincentives should be used, for example, putting an individual’s name on an excluded list or suspending their driver’s license. However, on the other side, it was also important that casino staff were better trained in recognizing people who are underage.
Fajt explained that, “Our fines are getting more significant, and they will continue to get even more significant until we see the industry responding to this issue.”
Similar Fines
Along with the Rivers fine, Fajt referred to the $160,000 fine given to Mount Airy Casino Resort based in Monroe County. This was issued when seven 16 and 17 year olds were discovered gambling in the establishment. Fajt explained that he believed the fine should have been bigger adding, “There is no reason that 16 and 17-year-olds should be on a gaming floor in any casino in Pennsylvania, especially when there is seven of them.”
Another fine issued on Wednesday was against Hollywood Casino located in Dauphin County. This was for $40,000 and was due to a slot machine, which had not been properly tested or certified, being put into service.
Machine Testing
The other part of Rivers fine, which amounts to $70,000, is due to the same issue. While the machines were being played, they failed to add up particular financial data. However, gaming officials claim that all revenues were calculated and then paid by the casino at a later date.
Since this time, Sklar explained that Rivers Casino has upped its technicians from one to two and both are required to check all machines before they are ready to be played.