The operator of Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County has agreed to pay a $25,000 fine for allowing a visibly drunk patron to gamble, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board said.
The fine approved Wednesday by the board is in addition to $2,500 in costs related to the investigation into last fall’s incident, according to a consent agreement between the casino operator and the state.
So far this year, the gaming board has approved a total of $190,000 against five casinos for violations. That includes a $50,000 fine levied against the operator of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem for underage gambling, according to the board.
Pennsylvania’s 12 casinos took in $3.2 billion in total gaming revenue in 2016, a record since the first slots-only casino opened in November 2006. Table games were added in July 2010. Slots comprised $2.36 billion of the 2016 revenue, in addition to $853.2 million from table games.
Total gaming revenue since 2006 in Pennsylvania totals nearly $25.9 billion.
The Mount Airy fine stems from an incident Oct. 7 at the casino in Paradise Township.
Pennsylvania casinos are required to have a compulsive and problem gambling plan with procedures to prevent intoxicated patrons from gambling, the gaming board says.
In the incident last fall, the unidentified male patron paid for and was served 27 drinks over a period of about nine hours, the gaming board said.
He started out shortly after 1 p.m. that Friday in the casino’s Glass Bar, located on the gaming floor. He was served his last drink about 10 p.m.
“From approximately 1:09 p.m. until he fell off his barstool at 10:41 p.m., the patron continuously engaged in slots play at table top slot machines located at the Glass Bar,” the consent agreement states.
Casino staff indicated the patron began displaying signs that he was drunk starting about 3:30 p.m., Youwin before being served 18 additional drinks, the gaming board said.
Three bartenders who served the man were fired, according to the gaming board. The gaming board did not indicate the patron faced any repercussions.
Sands cheat fined $75K
A Mount Airy spokesman was not immediately available for comment Wednesday.
This is the first fine assessed against Mount Airy related to intoxicated patrons since its license was last renewed by the gaming board, last August.
The Sands fine was announced earlier this month, for an incident in which people under age 21 gained access to the gaming floor, according to the gaming board. The incidents were described as follows:
A 19-year-old male gained access onto the gaming floor where he wagered at slot machines and consumed alcohol.
A 20-year-old female gained access onto the gaming floor and wagered on slot machines.
Two males, ages 19 and 20, gained access onto the gaming floor and wagered at slot machines.
A 20-year-old male gained access onto the gaming floor and wagered on slot machines.
The other fines approved this year by the gaming board were against the operators of SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia, Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin in Fayette County.
Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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