90%
75%
USA
Canada
Australia
UKWoman on Pennsylvania Self-Exclusion List Removed from Casino After Hitting Jackpot
Key Highlights
- A New Jersey woman hit a slot jackpot at Hollywood Casino at Penn National.
- Casino staff identified her as being on Pennsylvania’s lifetime self-exclusion list.
- State rules prohibit self-excluded players from collecting winnings.
A 69-year-old New Jersey woman was escorted out of a Pennsylvania casino after hitting a slot machine jackpot because she was on the state’s lifetime self-exclusion list.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, troopers responded to Hollywood Casino at Penn National in East Hanover Township on June 1 after casino staff identified the woman as a self-excluded gambler. Authorities confirmed she had enrolled in the Pennsylvania gambling lifetime self-exclusion program in 2019 and returned to the property despite that standing ban. After her status was verified, police removed her from the casino floor.
A non-traffic citation for trespassing is expected to be filed. The jackpot amount was not publicly disclosed
Self-Exclusion Rules Likely Led to Forfeiting the Jackpot
While authorities didn’t confirm whether the woman received any of the winnings, Pennsylvania’s regulatory framework makes that outcome unlikely. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board prohibits self-excluded individuals from collecting gambling winnings, recovering losses, or receiving complimentary items and services from licensed operators. Any jackpot triggered by someone on the exclusion list is typically subject to forfeiture under those rules, regardless of the amount involved.
Pennsylvania’s voluntary self-exclusion program allows residents and visitors to ban themselves from all licensed gambling facilities for a set period or for life. Once enrolled, individuals are barred from participating in any gaming activities at licensed casinos across the state. Operators are required to make reasonable efforts to identify and remove self-excluded patrons who appear on their premises.
Those found gambling in violation of their enrollment can face trespassing citations, as happened here. The program is designed to give people struggling with problem gambling a formal, enforceable way to limit access.