Mohegan Sun Allows Underage Gambling/Drinking in PA

The hasty passage of Expanded Gambling legislation in Pennsylvania at midnight on the 4th of July, was fraught with problems, the most conspicuous of which was its failure to address the widely known problem of Gambling Addicts abandoning children in parking lots [See Parx, PBGC, Governor Rendell].

It is interesting to note that of the 10 'casinos' currently operating in Pennsylvania, they currently employ about 15,000 people although there is no breakdown of how many are part time employees, a common industry practice.

This defines the delusion Massachusetts lawmakers suffer when falsely believing 3 Slot Barns will create a similar number.

The article below defines practices the financially insolvent Mohegun Sun continues to allow in Pennsylvania:

$80,000 Fine Levied by The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Against Casino for Permitting Underage Gambling
HARRISBURG, Pa.,
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today levied at fine of $80,000 against a northeast casino for two incidents of allowing underage patrons to gamble.

The fine was the result of a consent agreement between the PGCB's Office of Enforcement Counsel and Downs Racing, L.P., operator of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Luzerne County, and stemmed from two incidents in which underage patrons were permitted to gamble and, in one incident, also provided alcohol.

The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act provides that it is unlawful for persons under 21 years of age to wager, play or attempt to play slot machines or table games, nor enter and remain in any area of a licensed facility where slot machines are operated or the play of table games is conducted.

Details of these incidents are as follows:


•October 28, 2010 – a 20-year-old male and a 19-year-old male gained access to the gaming floor through the valet entrance and remained on the gaming floor for approximately two hours, during which time they played blackjack at various tables. After being identified as underage, both individuals were cited by the Pennsylvania State Police with playing table games while under the age of 21.

•January 2, 2011 – a 20-year-old male gained access to the gaming floor through the valet entrance and remained on the gaming floor for approximately three and a half hours, during which time he played a slot machine and also participated in blackjack games. In addition, the individual was served three bottles of beer while on the floor, even though Pennsylvania's minimum age for being served alcohol is also 21. The individual was cited by the Pennsylvania State Police with playing slot machines and table games while under the age of 21, and for purchasing, consuming and possessing alcohol while underage.

This was the second consent agreement between the PGCB and Downs Racing involving underage gaming since its Category 1 slot machine operator license was renewed in September of 2009. Under that December 2010 consent agreement, Downs Racing was assessed a $47,000 fine for three underage gaming incidents.