The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) enforced a pair of fines totaling $27,500 to two separate entities for unrelated infractions, both of which were presented during a recent public meeting this week.
The fines against Stakelogic, USA — a gaming manufacturer for the PA online casino market — and TA Operating, LLC — a truckstop-affiliated company that offers Video Gaming Terminals (VGTs) — were announced at January’s monthly meeting for the PGCB.
Stakelogic issued fine of $22,500 for change of control notification
Stakelogic received the significantly larger of the two fines. The online casino content manufacturer was fined $22,500 for failing to properly notify the gaming board of a change in control within its ownership structure.
The fine was apparently a result of Stakelogic’s failure to disclose the company would be selling shares of the company, which resulted in a change in control due to its new investment shareholders.
This happened less than a month after Stakelogic initially received its state gaming license.
Stakelogic CEO, Stephan van den Oetelaar, testified at the monthly meeting from his home country of the Netherlands and accepted full responsibility for the company’s lack of transparency with the gaming board. He said at the meeting:
“We have corrected this and it will not happen again.”
Gaming board chair, Denise Smyler, then replied, “We look forward to you doing business in Pennsylvania.”
TravelCenters of America also fined for lack of VGT surveillance
TA Operating, or TravelCenters of America, is a company in charge of a Video Gaming Terminal Establishment license within the Commonwealth. It was fined $5,000 for not having properly functioning surveillance in its gaming area at its site No. 67 location.
This meant there was no properly working surveillance in its VGT area, nor was there any direct line of sight monitoring by store personnel, which is against Commonwealth law.
The problem was discovered in a routine inspection in August 2023 due to there being no functional monitor and no direct line of sight to the gaming area. This occurred less than a year after TravelCenters of America was issued a warning letter for similar infractions discovered previously.
TravelCenters of America accepted responsibility for its role in this infraction, which was alluded to have been caused by electricity-related issues that the company’s attorney, Erin Cordier, called “power fluctuations.” She said:
“TravelCenters of America understands the importance of adhering to the board’s rules and regulations and understands the role that the proper monitoring and surveillance of the video gaming area has in furthering the goal of maintaining the integrity and security of video gaming in the Commonwealth.”
