Two Pennsylvania casinos fined for law breaches

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (GCB) has slapped two casinos in the state with a whopping $160,000 in fines for “various infractions” found at both venues.

The agency levied the fine after its Office of Enforcement Counsel reached a deal with the two offenders Washington Trotting Association and the Valley Forge Convention Center.

The two companies were fined $80,000 each and according to a press statement by GCB, Washington Trotting Association was fined after an investigation at its The Meadows Racetrack & Casino.

The investigation found that employees at the racetrack have since 2009 issued more than $830,000 in complementary services.

The state law only authorises particular employees to provide complimentary services but this is capped at an appropriate limit. The authorisations, approved by the GBC, are part of every facilities internal controls.

Also, the Valley Forge Convention Center Partners, operators of the Valley Forge Casino Resort were fined $50,000 for breaches including “failure to safeguard its revenues and assets” and “failure to maintain reliable and accurate financial records, including ensuring access, record and compare its assets, conducting regular audits and ensuring segregation of audit functions and responsibilities.”

This came after a worker fraudulently tried to collect reimbursements in connection to his employment. The employee is facing criminal charges.

The additional $30,000 resulted from a non-compliance of guidance by which the company flouted GCB’s framework and rules governing Spanish 21, a type of blackjack.

Currently, there are 10 stand-alone and racetrack casinos, in addition to two small resort casinos operating in Pennsylvania. These casinos contribute $1.4 billion in tax revenue to the state annually.