The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has imposed a fine on Valley Forge Casino Resort after regulators confirmed that a 13-year-old was able to spend hours on the gaming floor playing slot machines. The penalty stems from a November 2024 incident, which raised questions about oversight and enforcement at the Montgomery County venue.
Six Hours on the Gaming Floor
According to consent agreements presented to the PGCB, the boy gained entry to the casino alongside his father using the father’s identification. Initially, a security guard struggled to scan the ID, but when it was handed to another officer, the document was accepted without further verification. Both the father and son were then permitted access to the casino floor.
The underage guest spent more than six hours inside the casino, with records showing he played at least five slot machines. During the visit, the boy was given $600 in cash by his father and also accessed additional gaming vouchers, totaling $1,640 used for gambling. Surveillance later revealed that he was served sodas and a beer, although there was no indication that he consumed alcohol himself.
Documents confirmed that the boy was on the casino floor from 1:47 p.m. until 7:50 p.m. on November 18, 2024. The following morning, both he and his father attempted to return but were refused entry. At that point, casino staff reviewed footage and confirmed the underage gambling from the previous day. Pennsylvania State Police were immediately notified.
Legal Consequences for the Father
The father faced citations for “aiding and abetting” underage gambling. Court documents show he pleaded guilty to a summary count of “unlawful to permit it persons under 21.” His son was also cited for entering and wagering in a casino as a minor.
The PGCB emphasized that Pennsylvania law strictly prohibits anyone under 21 from accessing slot machines or table games. Despite this, lapses in security protocols allowed the teenager to bypass safeguards intended to prevent underage access.
Following the discovery, Valley Forge Casino carried out an internal investigation. Security officers involved were issued final written warnings, and all security staff were required to undergo additional training. The cocktail server who served drinks during the incident also received a written warning.
As part of the settlement with regulators, the casino agreed to enhance its internal procedures and retrain employees to reduce the risk of similar violations. The PGCB confirmed that Valley Forge, owned by Boyd Gaming since 2018, accepted responsibility through the consent agreement.
The penalty approved by the Board amounted to $30,000. While one report mentioned a figure of $300,000, the PGCB’s official consent agreement outlined the final fine as $30,000.
As reported by PGCB, the Valley Forge case was one of several matters addressed during the September meeting. The PGCB also placed 12 individuals on various Involuntary Exclusion Lists. Among them were patrons who left minors unattended in vehicles outside casinos. One woman left two children, ages 3 and 9, in a car at Wind Creek Bethlehem, while another pair left two 8-year-olds outside Presque Isle Downs & Casino while they gambled inside.
The regulator highlighted its “Don’t Gamble with Kids” awareness campaign, warning adults that leaving children in unsafe environments while gambling can result in permanent exclusion from all state-regulated casinos.
Additional cases involved fraudulent online gambling, which led to two individuals being barred from interactive gaming in Pennsylvania. With the latest decisions, the number of people on the state’s exclusion lists has risen to 1,422.
