Board fines Parx Casino $10K for allowing teen to gamble
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Parx Casino will have to pay $10,000 for letting an 18-year-old gamble at the Bensalem casino last year, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced Wednesday.
The teen was permitted to gamble at the Street Road casino in August 2021, according to a consent agreement between the board and the Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment, which operates Parx.
The teen was with a group, and he was able to get into the casino without having his identification checked. He walked around the casino and eventually approached a craps table, where he provided a staff member identification for his brother, who was 20 at the time.
The staff member returned the identification and allowed the teen to enter the game with a $50 buy-in. The teen then bet $25, but lost. At that point, the staff member asked to see the teen's ID again, and they alerted management that someone underage was at the table.
The teen bet another $25 and lost there too, according to the gaming control board.
He was removed from the floor shortly after and was taken into custody by state police, who cited him.
The teen was on the gambling floor for all of 11 minutes, the gaming control board said. He did not consume any alcohol during that time.
Parx spokeswoman Carrie Nork Minelli said the teen evaded security by mixing in with a group of people who were all over 21.
Three officers and two table games dealers were given "coaching" following the incident.
The three security officers received "written counseling" for not paying enough attention and letting the 18-year-old in. The table games employee who checked the teen's ID received a warning for allowing him to play before letting a supervisor know. The employee's supervisor was also given a warning for allowing him to play after being told there was an underage person gambling.
Minelli said the teen was identified by staff as looking young and was escorted out after showing his ID.
The incident was immediately reported to the Bureau of Casino Compliance, as is Parx policy, Minelli said.
This is the second time in recent years the casino has been fined for letting someone underage gamble. The board fined the casino $10,000 in October 2021 for letting an 18-year-old enter the gambling floor and used the slot machines.
