Pennsylvania: Rivers wants to escape culpability

In an audacious move, The Rivers Casino is attempting to escape culpability from violating its own rules allowing underage gambling and its own failures to monitor its premises.

We punish stores that sell cigarettes to minors.

We punish liquor stores and bars that sell to minors.

The Gambling Industry portrays itself exempt from accepting responsibility.

Pennsylvania Casinos Want New Laws To Punish Underage Gamblers

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The lawyer for one of the latest casinos to be fined for underage gaming says Pennsylvania needs to rethink its approach to the problem.

The $80,000 fine levied against The Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh Wednesday is among the more than $1.1 million total in fines for underage gaming in Pennsylvania.

Michael Sklar, an attorney representing The Rivers, says the problem will continue unless the minors themselves are punished.

“The kids are going. It’s like a bar: the kids are gonna try.”

But Gaming Control Board Chairman Greg Fajt says in some cases, the casinos aren’t following their own rules.

“Kids are going to a table and playing table games. They’re cashing out money from a cashier when they’re under the age of 21. Those are simply unacceptable circumstances,” Fajt said.

Fajt believes gaming board members would support sanctions against minors, but notes that some policies, such as New Jersey’s practice of taking drivers licenses from underage gamblers, would have to be approved by the legislature.

Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio 1060