Pennsylvania gambling regulators have stripped gambling privileges from 18 people, including four adults accused of leaving children unattended at casino properties while they gambled.
The action was approved by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Wednesday (June 17) and places those individuals on one of the state’s Involuntary Exclusion Lists. Anyone added to those lists is barred from gambling at Pennsylvania casinos, state-regulated online betting platforms, and Video Gaming Terminal locations.
Among the cases cited by the board, one woman left two children, ages 8 and 13, in a vehicle at Valley Forge Casino Resort for 52 minutes while participating in multiple forms of gambling. Another woman left three children, ages 8, 9 and 13, alone in a hotel room at Mount Airy Casino Resort for 1 hour and 48 minutes while she played table games.
A third case involved a woman who left a 10-year-old child in a vehicle at Live! Casino Philadelphia for more than three hours while gambling on slot machines. In the fourth incident, a man left a 12-year-old in a vehicle at Hollywood Casino York for 30 minutes while he played slot machines.
Parents accused of child neglect after children left unattended at Pennsylvania casinos
Board officials said the penalties are intended to reinforce rules that prohibit adults from leaving minors unattended in parking lots, garages, hotels, or other areas of casino properties. Regulators warned that such situations can expose children to unnecessary risks and unsafe conditions.
The board also highlighted its “Don’t Gamble with Kids” campaign, which was created to support casino efforts to reduce incidents involving unattended minors.
Beyond the four child-related cases, regulators placed 14 additional people on the Involuntary Casino Exclusion List for separate violations. The matters were brought before the board by its Offices of Chief Counsel and Enforcement Counsel.
The latest decision follows a series of recent enforcement actions. In February, the board announced that 22 people had been added to exclusion lists, including five adults accused of leaving children unattended while gambling and five individuals accused of fraud involving online gaming or sports wagering accounts.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved three consent agreements today, totaling $72,000 in fines involving violations at a Video Gaming Terminal establishment and two casinos.
The Board also placed 11 individuals on its various Involuntary Exclusion Lists, prohibiting… pic.twitter.com/cDBIwQffHA
— Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (@PAGamingControl) October 22, 2025
The board has also taken action against casino operators. Earlier this year, regulators approved $112,500 in fines against three gaming companies. Rivers Casino Pittsburgh received a $70,000 penalty after self-excluded patrons were able to access gaming areas and place bets. Live! Casino Pittsburgh was fined $10,000 after an underage person gained access to the gaming floor.
In a separate enforcement case in 2025, Valley Forge Casino Resort was fined $30,000 after a 13-year-old reportedly spent more than six hours gambling on slot machines.
With the newest additions, the total number of people across Pennsylvania’s various Involuntary Exclusion Lists now stands at 1,481. The board’s next public meeting is scheduled for July 22, 2026, in Harrisburg.
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