Presque Isle Downs, Hollywood Casino, Harrah's fined for underage gambling

Erie casino fined $15,000 for two underage gambling violations

State regulators have imposed a $15,000 fine against Presque Isle Downs & Casino because two underage patrons gambled on slot machines.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board handed out the fine, which is the first time in the Erie casino's more than three-year history that it has been cited.


The Gaming Board said that on April 17, a 19-year-old patron placed wagers on slot machines for 12 minutes. And on May 13, a 19-year-old patron bet on the slots for 25 minutes, the board said.


State law states that gamblers must be at least 21 to play slot machines or table games or even be on the casino floor.


The Gaming Board also fined Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racecourse, near Harrisburg, a total of $65,000 for three incidents of underage patrons betting on the slots and one case in which a 10-year-old girl got on the casino floor with her father. The violations occurred from Feb. 1 to July 16.


The board also fined Harrah's Chester Casino & Racetrack a total of $70,000 for seven incidents of underage patrons playing slot machines from Oct. 1, 2009 to March 21.


It was the third time that Hollywood Casino had been fined for similar violations, and the second time that Harrah's had been fined, the board said.


-- John Guerriero