Senate Mulls Bills To Keep Kids Off Casino Property

HARRISBURG (KDKA/AP) -- In October, a security guard found an 8-year-old wandering around outside the Rivers Casino while officials say her mother was inside playing blackjack. Officials charged the mother with child endangerment.

Last year, a couple was charged with leaving three young children in a van while they gambled at the same Pittsburgh casino; and a Philadelphia area casino added surveillance cameras and stepped up patrols after 9 reports of children left alone on the property.

Now, however, the Pennsylvania Senate is considering bills aimed at preventing similar cases from happening.

After getting overwhelming support in the House yesterday, two bills aimed at keeping unattended children out of casino parking lots are on their way to the state Senate.

One bill would make it a misdemeanor to leave children under the age of 14 in cars parked on casino property and double the fines for casinos who don't report such incidents.

Under the other bill, casinos would be required to post signs warning people not to leave their kids unattended.

While the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has not commented on either bill, some members have said in the past that tougher penalties may be the only solution.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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