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Attorney
General Anne Milgram and Division of Gaming
Enforcement Director Josh Lichtblau announced
that Bally’s Park Place Inc. was ordered
today to pay a record underage gambling
fine for permitting a 20-year-old woman
to gamble numerous times at its Atlantic
City casino.
The
New Jersey Casino Control Commission today
approved a stipulation and settlement agreement
filed by the Division of Gaming Enforcement
that requires Bally’s to pay a $157,500
civil penalty to the New Jersey Casino Revenue
Fund. The fine resolves a complaint filed
by the Division of Gaming Enforcement on
Jan. 8, 2007.
The
penalty exceeds the highest fine previously
ordered in New Jersey for an underage gambling
violation, which was a $105,000 penalty
imposed against the Borgata in February.
The
Division of Gaming Enforcement uncovered
the woman’s underage gambling at Bally’s
after she was arrested at the Sands casino
for underage gambling. The Division conducted
a review to determine whether she had gambled
at other casinos.
The
investigation revealed that in January 2006,
Bally’s issued the 20-year-old woman
a player rating card, also known as a “Connection
Card,” so that her play could be rated
and she could earn complimentary services
or “comps.” Over the next two
months, she gambled in Bally’s casino
on 18 days and was rated for table game
play 137 times by Bally’s games personnel.
She was also rated for playing slot machines
on three of those days. She did not receive
any comps.
“This
penalty is warranted because the underage
woman was permitted to gamble extensively
at Bally’s without being detected
and stopped,” said Director Lichtblau.
“The casinos in Atlantic City must
be vigilant in preventing underage gambling.”
This
matter was investigated by State Investigator
Patrick Ealer of the Division of Gaming
Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Deputy
Attorney General Timothy C. Ficchi.
The
Division of Gaming Enforcement was established
in 1977 under the Casino Control Act to
enforce the act and ensure the integrity
of the casino gaming industry in New Jersey.
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