HARRISBURG – In order to better serve the public in its enforcement role, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has developed and made available on its web site a system that allows patrons of a licensed Pennsylvania slot casino to file a dispute or complaint and initiate an investigation.
The Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act charges the Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement with the duty of investigating all potential non-criminal violations of the Act, including disputes and claims alleged by patrons. A dispute is a claim for a specific amount of cash or merchandise. A complaint is a difference of opinion between a licensed gaming entity and a patron, which does not involve money or items of value.
Patrons who have a dispute or complaint with a licensed gaming entity in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania may request BIE to investigate, with each instance assigned a case number and an investigator. Any criminal violations of the Act alleged by a patron will be referred to the Pennsylvania State Police for investigation. PGCB Executive Director Anne Neeb says the agency will utilize all tools at its disposal, including the Internet, to fulfill its objective to protect the public through the regulation and policing of all activities involving slots gaming.
“It is important for the PGCB to thoroughly investigate any potential wrongdoing by a casino, thereby instilling a high degree of public confidence that this new industry is operating in a fair manner to its patrons,” Neeb states. “We believe that it is in everyone’s best interest to help citizens easily bring a problem to our attention so our BIE staff can move quickly toward a resolution.”
In addition to the capability of a casino patron to file online at www.pgcb.state.pa.us, a dispute/complaint form also can be submitted in hardcopy form to the PGCB. These forms are readily available at each licensed casino or can be downloaded and printed at the PGCB web site.
Pursuant to the Act, the PGCB has jurisdiction over every aspect of the authorization, operation and regulation of gaming in the Commonwealth and
maintains a full-time on-site presence at each licensed facility. Costs for the oversight of the casinos by the PGCB, Pennsylvania State Police, Department of Revenue, and Office of the Attorney General are paid for by slot machine operators and not taxpayers. Thus far, legalized slots gaming in Pennsylvania has generated $335 million.
Three slot machine facilities have opened with a fourth scheduled to begin operations this week. In addition, seven other facilities have been awarded licenses.