Betfair Finished with Fines Due to Licensing Breaches, Sugarhouse Penalized for Underage Betting Infringements
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has announced enforcement actions against two casino operators for violations related to underage gambling and employee licensing.
During a public meeting in Harrisburg on Wednesday, the PGCB approved two enforcement actions. The fines were presented by the PGCB's Office of Enforcement Counsel (OEC).
Sugarhouse HSP Gaming LP, the operator of Rivers Casino Philadelphia, was fined $30,000 for two separate incidents involving underage access to gaming areas. The PGCB did not disclose specifics about the patrons or outcomes in the Sugarhouse case.
In a separate incident, Betfair Interactive US LLC, operating under the FanDuel brand in Pennsylvania, was fined $40,000 for failing to license several employees as required by PGCB regulations.
These fines indicate multiple enforcement actions targeting employee licensing failures and underage access over the last year. In a more serious incident, Wind Creek Casino Bethlehem was fined $125,000 for multiple underage access incidents involving 11 underage patrons spanning from 2021 to 2023.
The PGCB has emphasized the need for land-based operators to maintain strict supervision and security protocols to prevent underage gambling. The Board reaffirmed that such violations warrant financial penalties.
The combined fines totaled $70,000 against licensed operators Betfair Interactive US LLC and Sugarhouse HSP Gaming LP for separate violations. The fine for Betfair Interactive US LLC was not the first for the company this year. Earlier this month, 15 individuals were banned by the PGCB, many for child endangerment violations.
In addition to the fines, the PGCB added seven individuals to its Involuntary Exclusion Lists, bringing the total number of barred individuals statewide to 1,411. The PGCB continues to promote its "Don't Gamble with Kids" campaign, reminding adults that leaving children unattended in or around gaming venues poses serious risks and will result in lifetime exclusions.
The next public meeting of the PGCB is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on August 20, 2025, at the Strawberry Square Complex in Harrisburg.
[1] Wind Creek Casino Bethlehem fined $125,000 for multiple underage access incidents. (n.d.). Retrieved July 25, 2023, from https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/07/wind-creek-casino-bethlehem-fined-125000-for-multiple-underage-access-incidents.html
[2] Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Issues Fines for Employee Licensing and Underage Access Violations. (2023, July 25). Retrieved July 25, 2023, from https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/07/pennsylvania-gaming-control-board-issues-fines-for-employee-licensing-and-underage-access-violations.html
[4] Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Approves Enforcement Actions Against Casinos. (2023, July 25). Retrieved July 25, 2023, from https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/07/pennsylvania-gaming-control-board-approves-enforcement-actions-against-casinos.html
- The PGCB emphasized the need for stricter supervision and security protocols to prevent underage gambling, imposed financial penalties for violations, and warned that such actions risk lifetime exclusions.
- In addition to fines, the PGCB added seven individuals to its Involuntary Exclusion Lists, reminding adults of the serious risks posed by leaving children unattended in or around gaming venues.
- In general news, the PGCB approved enforcement actions against two casino operators for violations related to underage gambling and employee licensing, indicating a rising trend in such violations over the last year.
- Casinos, such as Rivers Casino Philadelphia, must ensure responsible gambling to avoid fines for underage access or employee licensing issues, as demonstrated by the recent fines imposed by the PGCB.
- The casino culture, however, may contribute to the rise in crime and justice issues, as shown by the recent ban of 15 individuals by the PGCB for child endangerment violations.
- The increasingnumber of accidents and enforcement actions related to casino-and-gambling activities highlights the importance of education-and-self-development programs about responsible gambling for the public's general well-being and personal growth.
