The casino industry in Pennsylvania is getting more and more progressive as it has overtaken Atlantic City’s revenue last month. With a goal to become a leader in Northeast casinos, lawmakers do not have any issue expanding their state’s gambling laws. However, the legal gambling age has not been changed.
The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh has been fined $16,000 after two minors were caught playing slot machines in two separate incidents last year – first in October and another in December.
The Rivers Casino has just opened in August 2009. Just five months into its operation, its staff members received a heavy scolding from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board which told the casino on Wednesday that they would have to pay if they do not follow rules.
The allowable age for a player to play slots is 21 and to step on a Pennsylvania casino floor, one has at least to be 18. The teen caught in October was just 14 years old and he was four minutes into his game. The girl caught in December was 15 years and she had been playing the slots for 17 minutes before she was caught.
The management of Rivers Casino took note of their mistake and the fine was actually an agreement between the state’s Gaming Board and Holding Acquisition Co. LP, the casino’s owner.
Pennsylvania lawmakers have just legalized the use of table games in casinos. They also assured the public that the Gaming Board will closely monitor the casinos to avoid any underage gambling.
