Pennsylvania Fines MGM Resorts and CountR for Licensing Breaches
PGCB levies $100,250 in combined fines and adds 10 people to exclusion lists.
Key Takeaways
- The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved payments totalling $100,250 at its 23 September 2026 meeting.
- MGM Resorts International was fined $50,250 for a late Principal Licensing application.
- CountR GmbH agreed to pay $50,000 over an unapproved change of control and unpaid licensing fees.
- The board added 10 people to involuntary gambling exclusion lists, raising the total to 1,507.
- The next Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board public meeting is scheduled for 14 October 2026 at 10 a.m. in Harrisburg.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved payments totalling $100,250 tied to licensing violations by MGM Resorts International and CountR GmbH during its public meeting on 23 September 2026. MGM Resorts International agreed to pay $50,250 for a late Principal Licensing application, while CountR GmbH agreed to pay $50,000 over an unapproved change of control and unpaid licensing fees. The board also added 10 people to Pennsylvania's involuntary gambling exclusion lists, bringing the statewide total to 1,507.
What the PGCB approved on 23 September 2026
The board voted to accept two consent agreements forwarded from the Office of Enforcement Counsel. The first resolved a failure by MGM Resorts International to file a required Principal Licensing application on time; the company will remit $50,250. The second resolved matters involving CountR GmbH, a German gaming technology company, which the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board said completed an unapproved change of control and failed to pay required licensing fees; CountR will pay $50,000 under its consent agreement.
Pennsylvania licensing rules require licensed companies and certain principals to submit applications and ownership information so the regulator can review proposed transfers of ownership interests. PGCB forms explicitly require notification to the board ahead of such transfers.
Licensing triggers and regulatory obligations explained by the PGCB
The Office of Enforcement Counsel presented both agreements at the September meeting. Under Pennsylvania procedure, consent agreements settle regulatory concerns without formal adjudication when the board accepts terms that include financial payments and corrective actions.
The MGM matter involved a missed deadline for a Principal Licensing application by a regulated principal. The CountR settlement addressed two separate compliance failures: an unapproved change of control and unpaid licensing fees. The board's approvals formalise the financial settlements and record the regulatory breaches for each party.
Exclusion list updates and a notable case
The board removed statewide gambling privileges from 10 individuals at the same meeting. That action increased the total number of people on Pennsylvania's Involuntary Exclusion Lists to 1,507. Individuals on those lists can be denied access to regulated gambling activity in the state, including casinos, regulated online gambling platforms and Video Gaming Terminal (VGT) locations, depending on the exclusion category.
One case discussed during the meeting involved an adult who left a five-year-old child unattended in a parking garage at Harrah Philadelphia Casino for 36 minutes while gambling on slot machines. The board highlighted that incident when reiterating its public warning that adults must not leave children unattended in casino parking areas, garages, hotels or other casino facilities. The regulator continues to operate the Don’t Gamble with Kids awareness campaign aimed at preventing unattended-children incidents at gambling properties.
Operational and compliance implications for licence holders
The PGCB's actions underline two recurring compliance obligations for operators and service providers in Pennsylvania:
Submit Principal Licensing applications and ownership data within the timelines required by board rules.
Notify the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board in advance of proposed transfers of ownership interests and pay any licensing fees that apply.
Failure to meet those obligations can result in consent agreements that include financial penalties and a formal record of non-compliance on file with the regulator.
Platform vendors, operators and third-party suppliers working in Pennsylvania should ensure their change-of-control processes produce timely notifications to the board and that fee schedules are reconciled so unpaid sums do not accumulate into regulatory settlements.
Next steps and meeting schedule
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced its next public meeting will be held on 14 October 2026 at 10 a.m. in Harrisburg. Stakeholders seeking to monitor enforcement trends in the state should note the meeting schedule and the board's continued use of consent agreements to resolve licensing breaches.
For regulatory coverage of similar actions and wider rule changes, operators can consult the site's regulation hub and recent public notices in the news section.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did MGM Resorts pay to settle the licensing violation in Pennsylvania?
MGM Resorts International agreed to pay $50,250 after failing to file a required Principal Licensing application on time; the consent agreement was approved by the board on 23 September 2026.
Why did CountR GmbH have to pay $50,000 to the PGCB?
CountR GmbH paid $50,000 under a consent agreement because the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board found the company completed an unapproved change of control and failed to pay required licensing fees; the agreement was approved at the 23 September 2026 meeting.
How many people are on Pennsylvania's gambling exclusion lists after the September meeting?
Following the board's action on 23 September 2026, Pennsylvania's involuntary gambling exclusion lists totalled 1,507 people after 10 new additions were approved.
What incident did the PGCB highlight when adding exclusions at the September meeting?
The board highlighted a case where an adult left a five-year-old unattended in a parking garage at Harrah Philadelphia Casino for 36 minutes while gambling; the regulator referenced this when reiterating its Don’t Gamble with Kids awareness messaging.
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About the author
Eleanor Whitfield
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Eleanor Whitfield tracks gambling legislation, licensing decisions, and regulator enforcement across key markets — from the UKGC, MGA, and Germany's GGL to Spain's DGOJ and the state-by-state map in the Americas. The reporting answers three questions precisely: what changed, where, and who it affects, with jurisdictions, effective dates, and penalty figures named exactly as published. Compliance officers and operators read Eleanor Whitfield to know which rulebook moved before their next board meeting.
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