Rivers Casino in Philadelphia.

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

Two adults who left children alone in cars while gambling at Philadelphia casinos were among 18 people banned from betting in Pennsylvania, the Gaming Control Board announced on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) issued involuntary exclusions for 18 individuals, bringing the total number of people on its statewide ban list to 1,428.

Ten of those added were banned from entering casinos, including:

  • A man who left his 12-year-old in a car for 22 minutes while gambling in the sportsbook at Rivers Casino Philadelphia.
  • Another man who left two children, ages 6 and 13, alone in a car for 13 minutes while he gambled at Live! Casino Philadelphia.

The board emphasized that leaving minors unattended in casino parking lots, hotels, or other areas is illegal and creates unsafe conditions. The PGCB has launched a public awareness initiative, “Don’t Gamble With Kids,” to combat the problem.

The other eight individuals were added to the Involuntary Interactive Gaming Exclusion List for committing fraud related to online gambling, according to the board.

All excluded individuals are now prohibited from gambling at physical casinos, online betting platforms regulated by the board, or any of Pennsylvania’s Video Gaming Terminal (VGT) truck stop locations.

The PGCB oversees all legal gambling across the state, including 17 land-based casinos, sports wagering, online casino games, and fantasy contests. Regulated gaming generated $2.8 billion in taxes and fees in fiscal year 2024-25, the board said.

The next public meeting of the board is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at 10 a.m. in Harrisburg.