The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board imposed a $15,000 fine on Presque Isle Downs & Casino Wednesday for a failure to keep underage gamblers off the gaming floor.
The casino, which is owned by Churchill Downs Inc., self-reported the incident and did not oppose the penalty under a consent agreement outlined at the gaming board’s monthly meeting.
According to the description, two 19-year-olds were able to gain access to the casino in Erie County last April 21 when security staff at an entrance checked their temperatures as part of COVID-19 protocols, but failed to confirm they were at least 21 years old. Both individuals were able to play slot machines, although they did not attempt to purchase alcohol. One of the two was also able to cash out a voucher with a cashier who did not attempt to verify they were of legal age to be in the casino and gambling.
The gaming board’s staff reported that the violation was only detected by the casino itself two days later when one of the two females attempted to reenter the casino. When denied entry, she told security officers that she and the friend had been able to access the property previously.
Due to the incident, one member of the security staff was dismissed and another suspended. Presque Isle Downs President Jack Sours, who was not with the casino at the time of the violation and took over in November, told the gaming board that new training and operating procedures have been put in place for security staff and managers to try to ensure similar incidents do not reoccur.
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