PA Has Problem With Parents Leaving Kids in Car to Go Gamble

We've read about this happening in other states but the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in particular seems to have a serious issue with parents abandoning their small children in cars to go gamble in a casino.

Jessica Wellman of SBC posed the question via her Twitter page.

"Serious question: Why is this something PA seems to have SUCH issues with but we aren't hearing about it elsewhere? Is it happening elsewhere? I don't recall ever hearing about this in Vegas, I've not seen it in Indiana or Ohio. What is it about Pennsylvania?"

Serious question: Why is this something PA seems to have SUCH issues with but we aren't hearing about it elsewhere?

Is it happening elsewhere? I don't recall ever hearing about this in Vegas, I've not seen it in Indiana or Ohio.

What is it about Pennsylvania? https://t.co/Fb5ZZ9jpGx

— Jessica Welman (@jesswelman) August 28, 2023

SBC reports that the list of adults banned from PA casinos for leaving their kids unattended while they go gamble just keeps growing.  Perhaps a better question might be, Is PA just better at policing this extremely serious issue?

Just last week alone, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) banned four individuals from entering casinos after they were caught leaving their children unattended in their cars to go gamble.

One of the children left abandoned was just six years old.  Periods of time ranged from 39 minutes to 1 hour and 44 minutes.

Adults were banned in both March and April.  Dozens were added to the list last year.

Criminal charges may be brought against some of the parents.  In more extreme cases, Child Protective Services could also get involved.

But as long as there is the state of Florida, we do know PA is not alone.

Last year, Icese Simmons was arrested for child neglect after leaving her three children in a car for hours while she gambled in the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, according to authorities.  The youngest of her kids was just four years old.

Also last year, Indian River County Sheriff's Office arrested Bionca Lockett for leaving her baby in the car for almost two hours while she gambled inside an arcade.

As for Pennsylvania, the total number of incidents of parents abandoning their children to go gamble has thus far totaled 126.  Amazingly, that's a decline from the 157 number this time last year.

- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com