Lynnae is a journalist covering the intersection of technology, culture, and gambling. She has more than five years of experience as a writer and editor, with bylines at SlashGear and MakeUseOf. On the iGaming side,...
Read Full BioThe Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has approved a consent agreement fining the operator of Valley Forge Casino Resort $30,000 after a 13-year-old was able to access the gaming floor and gamble on slot machines.
The incident happened in November 2024, with the PGCB announcing the penalty on September 24, 2025. The decision comes just two months after the PGCB fined FanDuel and Rivers Casino for violations related to employee licensing and underage gambling.
According to the press release, the minor was on the gaming floor for more than six hours in the Boyd Gaming-owned casino and gambled on slot machines during that time.
PGCB Adds 12 Individuals to Involuntary Exclusion List at Same Hearing
At the same hearing, the regulator also moved to place 12 people on its Involuntary Exclusion Lists. Individuals on this list are barred from gaming at Pennsylvania casinos, regulated online sites, or Video Gaming Terminal (VGT) locations statewide. With the new additions, the total number of people on these lists is now 1,422.
Two of the cases highlighted during the meeting were related to child safety concerns. In the first case cited, a woman left her two children, aged 3 and 9, alone in a vehicle for 10 minutes while she gambled on slot machines at Wind Creek Bethlehem. In the second case, a man and a woman left two 8-year-olds in a vehicle outside the Presque Isle Downs & Casino while they spent almost half an hour gambling inside.
The board stressed that leaving minors unattended at casinos, whether they’re in a parking lot, hotel, or other on-site facility, can create unsafe conditions for children. In an effort to support casinos in raising awareness about the issue, the PGCB has launched a “Don’t Gamble with Kids” public awareness campaign.
Other Enforcement Actions on Underage Gambling in Pennsylvania
The action against Valley Forge Casino follows other penalties issued by the PGCB earlier this year. In July, PGCB fined Rivers Casino Philadelphia, which is operated by SugarHouse HSP Gaming, $30,000 after two people under the age of 21 were able to access the gaming floor and gamble.
In 2024, the regulator fined Wind Creek Bethlehem $125,000 for a series of underage access violations that occurred over a 20-month period, involving 11 individuals aged 18 to 20 years old. And in a 2022 case, a $10,000 fine was imposed on Parx Casino after an 18-year-old gained entry to the gaming floor and placed bets on table games.
