The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has fined the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Pennsylvania nearly $266,000 in gaming-law violations, partially for allowing underage gambling in three separate instances.
The Monroe County casino was fined $160k for the three incidents in the last year in which people under the legal gambling age of 21 passed through security at the casino entrances and played slot machines.
The casino’s policy is to demand the identification of anyone who appears to be younger than 30 but in one instance an 11-year-old came onto the gaming floor unchallenged.
The child was accompanied by her parents and her father inserted a $100 bill into a slot machine allowing the child to play the slot.
Another incident involved twin 13-year-old girls with their mother, while a third incident involved an 18-year-old male.
The Board Chair Denise J. Smyler stated: "It sounds like the entire staff needs to be trained." Smyler went on to express her "extreme disappointment" in the casino.
She added: "Even an 11-year-old doesn’t look like they’re 30. I don’t care if they’re five-eight, I don’t care if they’re six foot."
Mount Airy was also fined $100,825 for failing to file thirty-two corporate or individual license renewal applications by the statutorily mandated due dates.
The board's main focus during the meeting was the underaged gaming violations of which the casino’s verbal attempts to explain the situation fell flat.
Mount Airy’s Executive Director of Security Lianne Asbury said: "In the 11-year-old situation, the child was wearing a mask."
Board Member Frances J. Regan described the violation as "egregious and extreme."
