Pennsylvania fines MGM Resorts and CountR for licence breaches

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved on September 23 agreements for licensing violations that total more than $100,000 and added ten people to the state's gaming exclusion lists. MGM Resorts International must pay $50,250 for filing a Principal Licensing application late; CountR GmbH agreed to pay $50,000 for an unapproved change of control and unpaid licensing fees.

Pennsylvania fines MGM CountR: PGCB-approved penalties

The penalty against MGM Resorts International relates to a late filing of a Principal Licensing application required under Pennsylvania state rules. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) approved the agreement submitted by the Office of Enforcement Counsel during the public meeting on September 23. The fine for MGM totals $50,250.

In a separate matter, CountR GmbH, a German gaming-technology company, agreed to pay $50,000 after acknowledging it completed a change of control without the regulator's prior approval and did not satisfy required licensing fees. The PGCB approved that agreement at the same public session on September 23. Both settlements were submitted by the Office of Enforcement Counsel and ratified by the board.

PGCB licensing rules require gaming companies and certain executives or 'principals' to file applications and disclose ownership information for regulatory review. PGCB forms also require licensed companies to notify the regulator of proposed transfers of ownership interests so that any change of control is subject to regulator authorization. The applicable regulatory framework can be consulted in our [regulation](/regulation) coverage.

What prompted each fine and what the settlement covers

The sanction imposed on MGM stems solely from the tardy filing of the principal licensing application; no additional operational-conduct sanctions appear in the minutes. The record cites the unfulfilled documentary obligation and the payment set in the agreement to resolve the omission.

The CountR agreement documents two matters: first, completing a change of control without PGCB notification and approval; second, failing to pay licensing fees owed to the state. Under the approved consent, CountR satisfies those obligations for $50,000.

Exclusion lists and new additions: scope and figures

At the same meeting, the PGCB added ten people to the state's involuntary exclusion lists, bringing the combined total to 1,507 people on Pennsylvania's Involuntary Exclusion Lists. Exclusion lists can bar named individuals from accessing brick-and-mortar casinos, regulated online gaming platforms, or locations with Video Gaming Terminals, depending on the applicable exclusion category.

One incident noted in the minutes involved an adult who left a five-year-old child alone in the Harrah's Philadelphia Casino parking lot for 36 minutes while playing slot machines. The regulator reminded that adults should not leave children unattended in parking lots, garages, hotels or other casino facilities. The PGCB also maintains the "Don’t Gamble with Kids" campaign to address unattended minors on gaming properties; the campaign is mentioned as part of the regulator's awareness initiatives.

Related coverage can be read in our [casino](/casino) section, where specific incidents at commercial properties are documented.

Internal procedure and the role of the Office of Enforcement Counsel

The agreements presented to the PGCB originated with the Office of Enforcement Counsel, the body that processes and proposes sanctions and consent agreements to the board. In this case, the Office of Enforcement Counsel negotiated the amounts and payment terms with MGM Resorts International and CountR GmbH before submitting the agreements for a vote at the public session on September 23.

The process included presenting the consent terms at the public hearing and a vote by PGCB members. No extensions or amendments to the agreements were recorded during the vote as set out in the meeting minutes.

Next meeting and administrative timelines

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board scheduled its next public meeting for October 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in Harrisburg. PGCB public hearings are the forum where enforcement agreements are presented, license applications are approved or denied, and disciplinary actions are adopted. Our ongoing coverage will continue to track the regulator's minutes and decisions; see the [news](/news) section for updates.