The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has approved three consent agreements, resulting in fines totaling $282,205, with BetMGM receiving the bulk of the attention.
The PGCB fines were imposed following recommendations from the Office of Enforcement Counsel (OEC) and addressed regulatory violations by gaming operators within the state.
The largest fine, amounting to $260,905, was issued against BetMGM.
The penalty was imposed after the regulator uncovered 152 occasions on which individuals on Pennsylvania’s Interactive Self-Exclusion List were able to gamble on the operator’s online gaming platform.
Pennsylvania law requires operators to prevent self-excluded individuals from creating or maintaining accounts.
Two additional fines were issued to other operators for regulatory non-compliance. Rush Street Gaming, LLC, was fined $13,800 for failing to submit a required license renewal application for its chief financial officer.
In another case, Stadium Casino Westmoreland RE, LLC, the operator of Live! Casino Pittsburgh, was penalised for $7,500 for using revoked software in 11 slot machines.
Gamblers continue to leave minors unattended
The PGCB also took action against individuals who left minors unsupervised while they engaged in gambling activities. As a result, several individuals were either placed on, or denied removal from, Pennsylvania’s Involuntary Exclusion List.
Among those newly added to the list was a man who left a 12-year-old alone in a vehicle at Live! Casino Philadelphia on two separate occasions in a single day, totalling 20 minutes. While inside, he was found gambling at the sportsbook.
In addition to his exclusion, he was also cited for cheating.
Another individual added to the list was a woman who left a 12-year-old child unsupervised for 26 minutes in the bus lobby of Mount Airy Casino Resort while she played slot machines.
The Gaming Board also reviewed requests from two individuals seeking removal from the exclusion list but denied their appeals.
One of these cases involved a man who, in 2022, left five minors — aged two, four, five, 11, and 13 — alone in a vehicle for 35 minutes while gambling at Presque Isle Downs & Casino.
Another involved a woman who, in 2021, left her 14-month-old child alone in a locked vehicle multiple times at Valley Forge Resort Casino, totalling 11 minutes, with outdoor temperatures reaching 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
BetMGM troubles in other jurisdictions
BetMGM has faced regulatory penalties in multiple jurisdictions beyond Pennsylvania. Various state and provincial gaming commissions have imposed fines against the operator for compliance failures.
– Indiana: Last year, the Indiana Gaming Commission fined BetMGM $2,500 after a technical migration error allowed a self-excluded individual to place wagers. The operator self-reported the issue and accepted the penalty.
– Massachusetts: The Massachusetts Gaming Commission imposed a $20,000 fine against BetMGM’s retail sportsbook at MGM Springfield last year. The penalty was issued after the sportsbook accepted bets on prohibited college basketball games involving in-state teams. Massachusetts regulations prohibit wagering on in-state college teams unless they are participating in a tournament with at least four teams.
– Maryland: A regulatory violation in 2022 resulted in a $146,000 fine for BetMGM. The penalty stemmed from a software malfunction that led to unauthorised bets being placed before the state launched online betting.
– New Jersey: The Division of Gaming Enforcement has previously imposed penalties for various regulatory infractions, including violations related to advertising, illegal college bets and responsible gambling measures.
– Ohio: The Ohio Casino Control Commission also fined BetMGM for violations, including failures related to responsible gaming practices and compliance with state regulations.
– Ontario: The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) fined the operator $37,401 in 2022 for violating restrictions on gambling advertisements and promotions.
