Pennsylvania: Mohegan Sun Fined

PA Gaming Control Board Approves $47,000 Fine for Underage Patron Violations

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 16, 2010
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board today fined Downs Racing. L.P., operator of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, a total of $47,000 for three occurrences where persons under the age of 21 played slot machines.

The civil penalty was unanimously approved by the Board at its public meeting Thursday in Harrisburg as part of consent agreement between the Board's Office of Enforcement Counsel and Downs Racing.

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 a slot machine or table game at a licensed facility.

This was the fifth occasion in which Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs was fined by the Board for similar violations, the other four occasions occurring in December 2007 for $1,744.99, January 2009 for $5,000, September 2009 for $49,500 and September 2009 for $49,000.

The latest violations occurred between February 22, 2010 and June 9, 2010:

•February 22, 2010 – a 19-year-old female gained access to the gaming floor and placed wagers on slot machines for approximately 2 hours, then exited and reentered the gaming floor before being identified by Mohegan Sun security manager as being underage.

•May 13, 2010 – a 20-year-old male gained access to the gaming floor and placed
wagers on slot machines for approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes. A PGCB Casino Compliance Representative identified the individual as being underage.

•June 9, 2010 – a 20-year-old gained access to the gaming floor and placed wagers on slot machines for 1 hour and 18 minutes. The individual provided a Mohegan Sun security officer with a Pennsylvania Identification Card that belonged to an individual who was 23-years-old. A PGCB Casino Compliance Representative approached the individual and determined that the identification provided did not belong to him, and when asked, the male admitted that the identification belonged to another individual. The individual was also cited by the PA State Police for carrying false identification along with underage gambling.