Pennsylvania gaming authority fines Mount Airy, SugarHouse casinos

Mount Airy was fined $25,000 for allowing a visibly intoxicated patron to game. The fine was the result of a failure by casino personnel to prevent serving alcohol to a visibly intoxicated gaming patron. In this instance, the casino patron was served 27 drinks over a nine hour period, including 18 drinks after he showed signs consistent with intoxication while the patron engaged in slot play at table top slot machines located at the bar.

SugarHouse was fined $15,000 for conducting improper credit promotions. The fine approved against SugarHouse HSP Gaming, LP stemmed from two casino credit promotions that were conducted without proper notification to the PGCB. In one instance, SugarHouse personnel failed to provide the rules of the promotion within two business days of commencing the promotion per regulations. In the other instance, the casino failed to provide that information at all to the PGCB.

The next meeting of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 15 in the PGCB's public hearing room located on the second floor of Strawberry Square in Harrisburg.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Control Board was established in 2004 and is tasked to oversee all aspects of the state's casino industry.

There are 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos in operation, along with the two smaller resort casinos. These facilities collectively employ 18,000 people and annually generate approximately $1.4 billion in tax revenue from slot machine and table games play. The largest portion of that money is used for property tax reduction to all Pennsylvania homeowners, a board press release said.