Pennsylvania Gaming Control Fines FanDuel and Rivers Casino

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has issued a total of $70,000 in fines to two licensed gaming operators and added seven individuals to the state’s involuntary exclusion list, citing regulatory violations ranging from underage gambling to unlicensed employment and child endangerment.

Key Points

• FanDuel and Rivers Casino fined $70,000 for violations including unlicensed employees and underage gambling incidents.

• Seven individuals banned statewide after offenses ranging from online fraud to leaving children unattended while gambling.

• PGCB emphasizes child safety, reinforcing its “Don’t Gamble with Kids” campaign amid growing enforcement actions.

Operator Sanctions

The Board approved the fines during its latest public meeting after hearing presentations from the Office of Enforcement Counsel. FanDuel was fined $40,000 for failing to properly license multiple employees at its Pennsylvania operations. State regulations require that certain roles within gaming entities hold appropriate credentials to ensure transparency and regulatory oversight.

Sugarhouse HSP Gaming, which operates Rivers Casino Philadelphia, was fined $30,000 in connection with two separate incidents where underage individuals were permitted access to the gaming floor and allowed to gamble. Pennsylvania law strictly prohibits individuals under the age of 21 from engaging in casino gambling. Seven individuals were also added to the state’s involuntary exclusion list, which now includes 1,411 names. Individuals on the list are barred from entering or gambling at any licensed casino in Pennsylvania.

One of the more serious incidents involved a woman who left two children—ages eight and nine—alone in a hotel room at Hollywood Casino at the Meadows for nearly eight hours while she gambled at table games. The Board emphasized the risk such actions pose, stating, “Actions such as these to deny statewide gambling privileges serve as a reminder that adults are prohibited from leaving minors 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.”

The PGCB’s ongoing public awareness campaign, titled “Don’t Gamble with Kids,” is aimed at deterring this type of behavior. The initiative reinforces legal consequences for adults who leave minors unattended in order to gamble, especially in facilities regulated under Pennsylvania law.

Two of the individuals excluded were found to have engaged in fraudulent activity related to online gambling, further underscoring the PGCB’s focus on both in-person and digital compliance enforcement. These actions reflect the Board’s broader mandate to uphold the integrity of gaming in the state and protect public interest, particularly where it concerns vulnerable populations such as minors.

 

Actions such as these to deny statewide gambling privileges serve as a reminder that adults are prohibited from leaving minors 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.

Leadership Changes and the Future

Separately, Rivers Casino Philadelphia has announced the appointment of Scott Lokke as its new Chief Executive Officer. Lokke previously served as Senior Vice President and General Manager at Jack Cleveland Casino in Ohio. His leadership comes at a time of increased regulatory scrutiny for the casino.

The PGCB continues to meet regularly to address compliance and enforcement matters affecting the state’s expanding gaming industry, which includes land-based casinos, online platforms, and sports betting operators.