The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has imposed a combined $70,000 in fines against two prominent gambling operators, FanDuel and Sugarhouse HSP Gaming, for separate regulatory infractions.
The board also took disciplinary action against seven individuals by placing them on the state’s involuntary exclusion list, banning them from all licensed gambling facilities in the commonwealth.
FanDuel received the larger of the two fines, a $40,000 penalty for failing to ensure that several of its employees were properly licensed by the state regulator. This administrative breach highlights the board’s strict enforcement of all operational compliance requirements for its licensees.
The remaining $30,000 fine was levied against Sugarhouse HSP Gaming, the operator of Rivers Philadelphia Casino. This sanction was the result of two separate incidents in which the casino allowed individuals under the legal gambling age of 21 to gain access to the gaming floor and place wagers.
In addition to the corporate fines, the PGCB added seven new individuals to its exclusion list, bringing the total number of people on the list to 1,411.
The board highlighted one particularly severe case that led to an exclusion: a patron at Hollywood Casino at the Meadows was banned after she left two children, aged eight and nine, unattended in a hotel room for seven hours and 41 minutes while she gambled.
In a statement regarding the case, the board reminded the public that such behavior is illegal and creates a “potentially unsafe and dangerous environment for the children.” This aligns with the PGCB’s ongoing public awareness campaign, “Don’t gamble with kids.”
The board also noted that two of the other individuals were excluded for engaging in fraudulent activities related to online gambling.
The enforcement actions underscore the PGCB’s firm commitment to ensuring operator compliance, promoting responsible gaming, and protecting vulnerable populations.
