Number of Underage Casino Gamblers to Drop in Coming Months

Casino News - July 17th, 2009 - Written by Glen

Underage gambling has always been a problem throughout the nation's casinos, but steps are finally being taken to seriously reduce the numbers.It used to be that an underage gambler would, upon being discovered, be kicked out and turned away. Breaking a rule that carries no risk but potentially high rewards is one that is highly appealing to teenagers. Due to the lack of a risk on their behalf, the teens would fearlessly stroll into a casino and perhaps win cash. This is no longer the case.

Recent additions to legislature in some states has placed liability on the hands of the youth gambler. These states have adopted a series of fines in order to prevent the young from gambling. These fines could be up to $500 dollars, making the simple prospect of entering the casino a gamble.Other areas, such as Atlantic City, will now require that security detain the underage gamblers until law enforcement arrives. The risk of a criminal infraction is thought to frighten the underage bettors away from the doors before they even cross the threshold.

If such a gambler were to win any sizable amount of money, the funds would instantly be seized. Depending on how much was wagered over any period of time, this loss could be a heavy blow.Some argue that these laws are ineffective. A major issue is that the casinos found with underage gamblers would face a fine themselves. A casino proprietor would be disinclined to inform law enforcement to punish the young gamblers under the impression that the casino would be fined thousands of dollars.