PGCB Imposes Fine and Excludes Players from BetMGM

(AsiaGameHub) –   The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has imposed a fine on BetMGM due to inadequate anti-fraud and know-your-customer procedures across its betting platforms. Additionally, the regulatory body announced that it has placed several individuals on its involuntary exclusion lists for various reasons, including leaving children unattended while gambling.

BetMGM’s Lax KYC Protocols Were Exploited by Fraud Rings

The PGCB stated that its members approved a consent agreement presented by the board’s Office of Enforcement Counsel, resulting in a $100,000 fine for BetMGM. The regulatory body explained that the fine stems from BetMGM’s insufficient efforts to prevent fraudulent behavior on its BetMGM and Borgata platforms.

These failures included deficient KYC protocols, which allowed certain individuals to create multiple accounts using the credentials of others. The PGCB noted that these fraudulent accounts were most frequently accessed via stolen or fraudulently obtained funds.

The consent agreement identified four fraudulent rings that operated for multiple months and collectively wagered nearly $2 million. These were as follows:

• 1. operated for approximately 25 months until January 2024. A total of 1,567 accounts were created using personal identifying information of other individuals and wagered $229,580.
• 2. operated for approximately 34 months until November 2024. There was a total of 34 accounts created using personal identifying information of other individuals, resulting in $14,598 of combined wagering.
• 3. operated for approximately 29 months until November 2023 with 119 accounts created using personal identifying information of other individuals. The ring wagered $895,092 through these accounts.
• 4. operated for approximately 19 months until December 2023. This ring created 304 accounts using personal identifying information of other individuals and used them to wager $867,910.

PGCB Bans 4 Adults from Gambling for Leaving Children Unattended

Beyond the fine, the PGCB announced that its members also placed 16 individuals on various involuntary exclusion lists, preventing them from gambling in the state. Four of these were individuals accused of leaving a minor unattended while gambling.

One case involved a male patron who left an 11-year-old in a vehicle in the parking lot of Hollywood Casino York for almost an hour. Another man left a 5-year-old in a vehicle—this time in the parking lot of Rivers Casino Philadelphia—for 17 minutes.

The third case involved a man who left a 9-year-old in the parking lot at Rivers Casino Philadelphia for over an hour. The final man placed on the involuntary exclusion list left two minors, aged 7 and 12, in a vehicle in the parking lot of Parx Casino for a little over half an hour.

The PGCB reminded casino patrons that leaving a minor unattended is strictly forbidden, as it exposes the child to potential risks. Because of this, the board continues to promote its awareness campaign, Don’t Gamble with Kids.