BetMGM Fined $260K by PGCB for 152 Regulatory Violations

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has issued $282,205 in fines, with BetMGM receiving the largest penalty.

BetMGM was fined $260,905 for allowing 152 self-excluded individuals to gamble on its online platform, violating state regulations.

These violations highlight ongoing compliance challenges for gaming operators, as regulatory scrutiny intensifies across multiple jurisdictions.

Learn how self-exclusion violations, compliance failures, and unattended minors led to hefty penalties for BetMGM and other operators.

BetMGM Hit with $260K Fine in Pennsylvania for Self-Exclusion Violations

3 Key Points:

1. BetMGM Faces $260K Fine: PGCB penalized BetMGM for 152 instances of self-excluded players accessing its platform, violating Pennsylvania gambling laws.
2. Additional Operator Fines: Rush Street Gaming and Stadium Casino Westmoreland received fines for licensing and operational non-compliance.
3. Regulatory Crackdown Continues: Authorities expanded the Involuntary Exclusion List, targeting individuals who left minors unattended while gambling.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has imposed a $260,905 fine on BetMGM for failing to prevent self-excluded individuals from gambling. This penalty is part of a broader $282,205 enforcement action against multiple operators in the state.

State law mandates that licensed operators block self-excluded individuals from creating or maintaining accounts. However, regulators found that BetMGM allowed 152 self-excluded players to access its platform, leading to one of the largest compliance fines in Pennsylvania’s gaming history.

Alongside BetMGM’s fine, PGCB issued additional penalties:

• Rush Street Gaming LLC: Fined $13,800 for failing to submit a required license renewal for its Chief Financial Officer.
• Stadium Casino Westmoreland RE, LLC (Live! Casino Pittsburgh): Fined $7,500 for using revoked software in 11 slot machines.

Minors Left Unattended While Parents Gambled

PGCB also took disciplinary action against individuals who left minors unsupervised in casino parking lots and gaming areas. Some of the most egregious cases included:

• A man who left a 12-year-old child alone in a car twice while gambling at Live! Casino Philadelphia.
• A woman who left a 12-year-old unattended for 26 minutes in a bus lobby at Mount Airy Casino Resort.
• A gambler who abandoned five children (ages 2 to 13) in a vehicle for 35 minutes at Presque Isle Downs & Casino.
• A woman who left her 14-month-old child locked in a car at Valley Forge Casino, despite 88°F outdoor temperatures.

PGCB denied requests from two individuals seeking removal from the Involuntary Exclusion List, reinforcing its zero-tolerance stance on child endangerment.

BetMGM’s Compliance Issues Across Multiple Jurisdictions

BetMGM has faced regulatory penalties beyond Pennsylvania, with fines imposed across several US states and Canadian provinces:

• Indiana: Fined $2,500 after a technical error allowed a self-excluded player to gamble.
• Massachusetts: Fined $20,000 for accepting bets on in-state college basketball games, violating state regulations.
• Maryland: Penalized $146,000 for a software malfunction that led to unauthorized wagers before legal online betting launched.
• New Jersey: Fined for advertising violations, illegal bets on college sports, and responsible gambling failures.
• Ohio: Penalized for non-compliance with responsible gaming measures and state regulations.
• Ontario (AGCO): Fined $37,401 for violating gambling advertising and promotional restrictions.

These repeated compliance failures indicate an ongoing regulatory challenge for BetMGM, as gaming commissions tighten enforcement on responsible gambling practices.

Growing Regulatory Scrutiny for BetMGM and Industry Operators

The BetMGM fine in Pennsylvania highlights the intensifying focus on compliance, responsible gaming, and regulatory enforcement. As jurisdictions strengthen player protection measures, operators must prioritize self-exclusion protocols, consumer safeguards, and responsible gaming practices to avoid hefty penalties.

With global gaming regulators increasing oversight, operators like BetMGM face mounting pressure to ensure compliance, reinforcing the importance of strict adherence to licensing laws, self-exclusion lists, and advertising regulations.

As enforcement actions escalate, the message from Pennsylvania’s PGCB and other regulators is clear: compliance failures will not go unpunished.