Pennsylvania’s Valley Forge Casino To Install Infrared Cameras To Watch For Kids in Cars

Posted on: November 12, 2021, 10:12h. 

Last updated on: November 13, 2021, 04:19h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

The increased number of unattended minors left in parked cars at Pennsylvania’s Valley Forge Casino Resort while adults gamble has led the gaming property to take several new precautions. One includes installing infrared surveillance cameras.

The infrared cameras can detect heat if a child or other person is in a parked car. That will assist security guards patrolling vehicles with darkened windows.

In total, the gaming property and officials from its parent company, Boyd Gaming, said this week they plan to spend $776,000 on prevention and education regarding the issue. These details include more warning signs. The signs will be found in hotel rooms, in the casino’s foot court, and in parking lots.

Since January, Valley Forge, located in King of Prussia, saw 22 times when unattended children were left in cars or other vehicles. That compares to 15 such incidents in the past three years, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

If caught leaving kids in vehicles, the suspects could be prosecuted and banned for life from the state’s casinos.

When appearing before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Wednesday, Adrian R. King Jr., an attorney who represents Valley Forge, warned “This problem … really sits at the feet of very irresponsible parents.

We realize we have a responsibility to run a safe and secure property,” he told the Inquirer. “While we can never prevent human stupidity … we can attempt to mitigate it and make sure that dumb decisions don’t become tragic ones.”

Irresponsible Adults

Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Executive Director Kevin O’Toole said reports of the incidents are “increasingly disturbing to the board.” Board members praised Valley Forge and Boyd Gaming for taking the safeguards, the newspaper reported.

It also appears some of the increased number of incidents this year came about after employees were trained to watch for unattended children. The casino is giving workers gift certificates to watch out for such instances.

Specific Allegations

In June, when an infant was left in a car at the casino, security guards broke windows to reach the young child. A parent was sent to jail after authorities subdued the adult, the Inquirer said.

Also, earlier this year in the state, Jameila Mack reportedly was placed on the casino exclusion list in April. That’s after allegedly leaving her 12- and 5-year-old children unattended in a car for two hours while she was at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino.

In addition, Samy Hassan was reportedly placed on the list in July after allegedly leaving an 11-year-old child unattended at Wind Creek Casino in Bethlehem for over two hours.

In addition, Zachary Bohinski, 28, identified as the pastor at Fells Methodist Church in Rostraver, was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and disorderly conduct. That’s after allegedly leaving two children in a car unattended at Live! Casino Pittsburgh, as reported by KDKA, a local TV station.

While his daughters were in the car on July 31, Bohinski went into the property’s Guy Fieri’s restaurant and ate an order of “trash can nachos,” KDKA said. Then he won $1,600 on the slots.