A woman in her late 50s has passed the security and won a slot machine jackpot at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino last week despite being self-excluded from all casinos in the state of the Commonwealth. While this story has a happy ending, it serves as a reminder that gambling is still a choice and can not be controlled just through responsible gaming features.
The 100,000-square-foot casino operated by Caesars Entertainment was located in Chester, Pennsylvania. It features more than a hundred table games, 1,700 slots, and a Caesars Sportsbook.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police’s Bureau of Gaming Enforcement, the 59-year-old player who lives a couple of miles away from the casino was able to enter and play last August 26. She eventually hit the jackpot while playing a slot machine.
Despite having an amazing slot session, the woman doesn’t collect the winnings and tries to leave the Pennsylvania casino since she was on the self-exclusion list and the awarding of winnings will be a problem. However, the security eventually recognized that she didn’t collect the jackpot which leads to the detection that she was prohibited to enter the casino in the first place.
The report does not disclose the amount of the jackpot and how long do the woman was on the self-exclusion list.
While reporting a casino jackpot is good news for the US gaming community, casino operators must ensure that all the security features are meeting their purposes, just like the controls to detect people who already choose to be self-excluded.
In Pennsylvania, gaming facilities are required to follow responsible gaming safeguards to ensure the safety and well-being of their patrons. These safeguards include measures to prevent underage gambling, protect vulnerable individuals from excessive gambling, and promote responsible gaming overall.
These include making sure that gambling is conducted fairly and honestly, providing information about problem gambling and its risks, and offering training to employees on how to identify and assist guests who may be exhibiting signs of problem gambling as the self-exclusion features are being closely monitored by regulators. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) stated:
“Self-exclusion allows a person to request to be excluded from legalized gaming activities within a casino and offsite venues, online, at video gaming terminal (VGT) establishments, or on fantasy contests.”
“Individuals who enroll in self-exclusion are prohibited from collecting any winnings, recovering any losses or accepting complimentary gifts or services or any other thing of value from a licensee or operator.”
In addition, gaming facilities are required to maintain a database of self-excluded patrons, and they are prohibited from serving alcohol to any person who is visibly intoxicated. By following these responsible gaming safeguards, Pennsylvania gaming facilities provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all of their guests.
