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The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has fined Valley Forge Casino Resort $30,000 for allowing a 13-year-old boy to gamble on slot machines for more than three hours. In a press release today, the PGCB announced the penalty, with the news coming months after an incident in November 2024 where the minor spent over six hours in the casino alongside his father.
According to a consent agreement obtained by SBC Americas, the boy and his father were present at the casino from 1:47 PM until 7:50 PM on November 18. The child gained access to the casino floor by using his father’s legitimate ID, which belonged to someone born in 1992.
Over 3 hours and $1,600 gambled on slot machines
The document revealed that during his time at the casino, the underage boy mainly stayed with his father, who provided him with $600 in cash. In addition to this, the child used over $1,000 in gaming vouchers, totaling $1,640 across five different slot machines during a span of more than three hours.
While at the casino, staff served him two sodas and a beer without asking for identification. However, the report noted no evidence that he actually consumed any alcohol.
In Pennsylvania, it is illegal for anyone under 21 to gamble in casinos or to be present in areas with slot machines or even table games.
Father cited for “aiding and abetting”
The following morning, the father and son attempted to return to the casino floor but were denied entry. Upon reviewing the situation, casino staff discovered that they had both been allowed access the previous day, which led to the revelation of the underage gambling incident.
In response, casino personnel quickly informed state police and the Bureau of Casino Compliance, resulting in the eviction of both individuals from the premises.
As a punishment for his actions, police issued the father a citation for “aiding and abetting,” while the son faced charges for entering and gambling in a casino despite being underage.
Valley Forge also took immediate action by issuing warnings to the security officers and the drink server involved. The casino also mandated a refresher training course for all security staff and committed to implementing new policies aimed at preventing similar violations in the future.
Boyd victim of cyberattack
The PGCB’s announcement regarding the fine for Valley Forge Casino came just a day after its parent company, Boyd Gaming, disclosed a cyberattack to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 23. An unauthorized third party managed to breach the company’s internal IT systems, accessing and removing sensitive employee data.
Despite the breach, Boyd Gaming reassured stakeholders that it did not affect the operations at any of its properties and would not have a significant negative impact on the business.
The company has comprehensive cybersecurity insurance that it anticipates will cover costs related to incident response, forensic investigations, and any potential business interruptions, legal issues, and regulatory fines, subject to specific policy limits and deductibles.
This incident is part of a troubling trend, as several other gaming companies have recently reported similar cyberattacks. For instance, Bragg Gaming Group, based in Toronto, confirmed an incident last month that did not disrupt its operations or financial performance.
Meanwhile, Ainsworth and IGT also faced breaches in 2024 and not forgetting the notable case of MGM Resorts International that saw the company lose an estimated $100 million due to a major cyberattack in September 2023.
Source: SBC Americas
