Pennsylvania Casinos Fined for Free Play Violations

Mount Airy Casino Resort and Rivers Casino Philadelphia (l.) have been fined by regulators for issuing fee play awards in excess of amounts authorized by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

Pennsylvania Casinos Fined for Free Play Violations

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has issued fines to two casinos for violating the rules surrounding the issuance of free play. Mount Airy Resort and Rivers Casino Philadelphia both were fined for issuing free play comps in excess of the amount authorized under their “Comp Matrix” agreements.

Pennsylvania casinos must submit a Comp Matrix to the board, which, when approved, outlines which employees may issue free slot play and the maximum amount of the benefit authorized to be granted. Both casinos issued free play in excess of their authorized amounts.

The fine of $90,000 against Mount Airy was issued a fine of $90,000 after the gaming board for 491 instances where employees issued discretionary free slot play exceeding the authorized limit—totaling $262,500, including the alleged theft of $140,000 by one employee who has been formally charged with theft.

SugarHouse HSP Gaming was fined $45,000 fine for a similar offense at its Rivers Casino Philadelphia. The gaming board’s Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement found 405 instances in which discretionary free slot play was issued exceeding the property’s Comp Matrix. resulting in $25,562 in free slot play.